Now Fur Is on the Line

At its meeting on 28 May 2025, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the popular initiative «Yes to a ban on imports of fur products obtained through animal cruelty».

In order to address this important issue and promote animal welfare, the Federal Council is countering the fur initiative with an indirect counterproposal. This counterproposal envisages prohibiting both the import and the trade in furs produced through animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act. By enshrining a ban on trade within Switzerland, the counterproposal goes one step further than the popular initiative, which only provides for an import ban. The definition of “animal cruelty” relevant to the counterproposal is based on the international guiding principles of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Animal husbandry that enables species-typical behaviour and does not cause animals pain, injury, or suffering is considered, among other things, not to constitute animal cruelty.

Retailers must demonstrate welfare-compliant production

Swiss fur shops, fashion retailers, and online providers will in future be required to verify the method of production when purchasing fur products and to provide proof that the furs were obtained without animal cruelty. The federal authorities will verify whether such proof exists through inspections both domestically and at the borders. Unlawfully imported and traded furs and fur products will be removed from circulation and offending individuals will be prosecuted under criminal law. In doing so, Switzerland is sending a clear signal for animal welfare.

At its meeting today, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the fur initiative and its indirect counterproposal for amendments to the Animal Welfare Act. It recommends that Parliament reject the popular initiative and requests the adoption of the indirect counterproposal.

Since the Federal Council is keen to swiftly introduce an import ban on fur from animal-cruelty sources, it has already enacted an import ban at the ordinance level at today's session. It will enter into force on 1 July 2025 with a transitional period of two years.

Despite this important step forward, animal welfare organizations have expressed disappointment that the regulation was not framed more broadly. Of particular concern is that the use of cruel killing traps is not to be considered animal cruelty, meaning that fur from animals killed in this manner is not covered by the import ban.