Switzerland to ban fur imports from cruel farming practices
The groundbreaking new law will require fur sellers to prove their products meet Swiss animal welfare standards.
Switzerland will become the first European country to ban the import and sale of fur produced under cruel conditions, following a landmark decision by the Federal Council.
Under the new law, fur sellers, including shops, fashion brands, and online retailers, must prove their products meet Swiss animal welfare standards, starting on 1 July, 2025, with a two-year transition period.
Fur from animals kept in wire-floor cages, as well as pelts obtained through hunting methods will be prohibited, while the use of traps that are designed to kill animals caught in the wild instantly are exempt. The ban also excludes fur products that are imported for personal use, as relocation goods, or for non-commercial exhibition or research purposes.
Animal rights groups welcomed the measure as a stand against inhumane practices, but urged the government to go further by banning all fur imports, regardless of origin.
“The fact that Switzerland will prohibit the import of fur produced under cruel conditions is a groundbreaking step forward nevertheless,” said Thomas Pietsch, Head of Wild Animals in Textiles at Four Paws. “However, the term - cruel to animals - is not interpreted consistently.”
Pietsch noted that the ban does not cover particularly cruel trapping methods that are designed to kill instantly but often fail, leaving animals to suffer for hours or days. “Therefore, the regulation does not go far enough,” he added.
The Foundation for the Animal in the Law (TIR), a Swiss nonprofit focused on advancing animal welfare law, echoed those concerns. In a statement, the organization pointed out that such traps are already banned in Switzerland due to the severe suffering they cause and the high likelihood of unintended catches.
“Due to their unreliable mode of action, these traps often lead to the slow, painful death of the animals,” wrote TIR. “They also carry a high risk of false catches, which makes them questionable from a species conservation perspective. Against this backdrop, it is in no way comprehensible why the Federal Council does not consider their use in connection with fur hunting abroad to be cruel to animals.”
Fur farming in Switzerland was phased out after 2008 legislation, that limited animal captivity to conditions comparable to those in modern zoos, made the fur industry unprofitable.
Since 2014, Switzerland has only required fur products to be labeled with the species, provenance, and origin of the pelt, but animal protection groups say non-compliance has been widespread. The new regulations will see fur produced through cruel methods withdrawn from sale, and businesses that violate the animal welfare law could face prosecution.
According to the Swiss Animal Alliance (SAA), 350 tonnes of fur are currently imported into the country each year, equaling the slaughter of around 1.5 million animals.
"More than half of these furs come from China, where the terrible conditions in which animals are detained and killed, some of which are skinned while still alive, are regularly denounced," said SAA.
Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals
Between 2013 and 2023, global fur production has plummeted by 85 percent. In the United States, California and cities in Massachusetts, Michigan and Florida have passed laws prohibiting the sale of real fur. The European Union is currently considering a ban on fur farming and a ban on the trade in fur products from farmed animals.
Alongside the fur regulations, the Federal Council has also introduced new labeling requirements for certain imported animal-based food products, including meat, milk, and eggs. Under the updated rules, packaging must now disclose whether animals were subjected to painful procedures without anesthesia or stunning. According to a government statement, this includes practices such as castrating or dehorning cattle without pain relief, tail docking, teeth clipping, and castration in pigs, as well as the removal of frogs’ legs without anesthetic. Foie gras must now carry a label indicating that it comes from force-fed ducks or geese.
Read more: “Don't believe the hype: fur is not “back”,” by Sascha Camilli.
Take action: Join Species Unite in urging Fendi to get with the times and stop using fur, or join us in boycotting them until they do!
We Have A Favor To Ask…
Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.
At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.
We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.
