Switzerland bans the import of fur produced in a cruel manner. Groundbreaking parliamentary vote.

The Swiss Council of Cantons, one of the two chambers of parliament, today almost unanimously adopted (43 votes in favor, 1 against) a ban on the import of fur from cruel production. This is a groundbreaking decision regarding animal protection.

The ban still requires formal approval from both chambers of parliament on October 2. However, the vote is considered a formality – the National Council already supported this ban in the fall of 2025 and is only revisiting it to approve minor technical amendments. If the regulations come into effect, the import ban will take effect on July 1, 2029. The Council of Cantons adopted an intermediate counter-proposal to the Fur Initiative, despite attempts by the fur industry to weaken the regulations.

The fur industry lobbied for a relaxation of the regulations, including demanding the replacement of the federal certification system with frameworks based on so-called "international standards." The Council of Cantons rejected these efforts, ensuring that compliance will be assessed according to independent criteria rather than benchmarks set by the industry itself.