As the first European country, Switzerland has recently decided on an import ban of animal toned furs and fur products, which is due to come into force from July 1, 2025.
The animal protection organizations Four Pfoten – Foundation for Animal Welfare, the Foundation for the Animal in Law (TIR) and Zurich animal welfare welcome the decision of the Federal Council. “It is an important signal for more animal welfare and for a more ethical consumer culture that no furs can no longer be introduced to Switzerland in the future under particularly gruesome conditions such as cage on grid soils or hunting with whores,” comment on the organizations in a message.
Regulation does not include homicide traps
Even if Switzerland takes over an international role model function, they are disappointed with the close version of the regulation. For example, the use of cruel homicide traps is not considered to be animal tonal and the fur of animals killed in this way is therefore not covered by the ban on import.
“It is central that the term ‘animal cruelty’ is not interpreted too closely-otherwise there is a risk that furs will continue to get to Switzerland that are not acceptable according to our animal welfare standards,” said animal welfare organizations.
The ban on import was preceded by a Swiss animal welfare activist: the internal referendum. This was preceded by a collection of signatures in the Swiss population, which also included a stopper ban. In 2023, more than 100,000 signatures came together, or more than 116,000 for a fur ban, which met the required threshold of 100,000 signatures for national vote.
In Germany, the last fur farm was closed in 2019, but the fur breeding and posture is not prohibited by law.