Initiatives demand import ban on fur and foie gras
Swiss initiatives are calling for an import ban on fur products and foie gras. The products, which involve animal cruelty, are to be prohibited.
Two popular initiatives backed by broadly supported committees aim to enforce an import ban on foie gras and fur products produced through animal cruelty.
The Federal Chancellery has given the green light for the launch of both proposals.
Anyone selling fur in Switzerland has been required since 2013 to disclose the country of origin of the fur and whether the animal was hunted or farmed. However, animal welfare advocates consider this regulation far too limited, which is why they are now collecting signatures for two popular initiatives.
The two initiative committees have until 28 December 2023 to gather the required 100’000 signatures for their demands. If they reach this threshold, the Federal Council, followed by Parliament, and ultimately the people and cantons will be able to vote on the foie gras initiative and the fur initiative.
Majority of fur comes from China
The popular initiative «Yes to an import ban on foie gras» seeks to constitutionally prohibit the importation of foie gras and foie gras products. The popular initiative «Yes to an import ban on fur products produced through animal crueltye» also aims to ban the importation of fur. In both cases, Parliament is to enact the implementing provisions no later than two years after the initiative is adopted.
Alliance Animale Suisse stands behind the two popular initiatives. It is hypocrisy to import products whose production is banned in Switzerland, the animal welfare organisation argued before the media on 29 June 2022.
The committee justified the popular initiative «Yes to an import ban on fur products produced through animal cruelty» partly on the basis of Switzerland’s strict legislation. This sets such high requirements for fur producers that domestic production would not be economically viable.
Nevertheless, Switzerland imports around 350 tonnes of fur annually, for which approximately 1.5 million animals are killed. More than half of these furs come from China, where animals are sometimes skinned alive, it was stated at the press conference.
Switzerland imports 200’000 kilograms of foie gras
The situation is similar with foie gras. Force-feeding geese and ducks is considered animal cruelty in Switzerland and has been banned for over 40 years, as representatives of Alliance Animale Suisse emphasised. Nevertheless, Switzerland imports 200’000 kilograms of foie gras annually. To meet this demand, 400’000 ducks and 12’000 geese must be force-fed and killed each year. The initiative «Yes to a ban on foie gras imports» aims to put an end to this.Yes to a ban on foie gras imports» an end to this.
Both committees include well-known public figures, such as Swiss publicist Erich Gysling, television presenter Kurt Aeschbacher, current members of parliament including Council of States member Thomas Minder (independent/SH) as well as National Councillors Doris Fiala (FDP/ZH) and Martina Munz (SP/SH).
Several motions are pending in parliament that point in the same direction as the two initiatives. The National Council has approved an import ban on foie gras and fur products produced through animal cruelty. The Council of States has so far rejected both demands.
The Federal Council states that it does not support an import ban, but is working on a mandatory declaration for foreign products produced using methods that are prohibited in Switzerland.
