The import of fur into Switzerland is to be severely restricted.Image: KEYSTONE
An initiative wants to ban the import of fur from “animal-cruelty production” into Switzerland. This is causing an uproar in the fur industry – including in the USA.
Jan 15, 2026, 12:12 p.mJan 15, 2026, 12:12 p.m
With luxury ski resorts in St.Moritz, Gstaad and Zermatt, Switzerland attracts the super rich from all over the world. And what shouldn’t be missing when the rich and even richer get together to go skiing? Exactly, fur. Now Switzerland is about to introduce one of the strictest fur import laws in Europe – but not everyone likes that.
As the NZZ reports, one of the biggest critics of the new law is Republican Tom Tiffany. The entrepreneur represents Wisconsin in the US Congress. Wisconsin is the US state that produces the most fur and is home to dozens of mink farms.
Fur was once considered a luxury item, but today many people are skeptical about real fur.Image: KEYSTONE
When Tiffany got wind of Switzerland’s plans, he wrote a letter to Ralf Heckner, the Swiss ambassador in Washington. In it, according to the NZZ, he describes Switzerland as “a valued trading partner”. However, the looming import restrictions would endanger dozens of family-run fur farms in Wisconsin.
Import ban could “cool down” the relationship between Switzerland and the USA
Mark Oaten, executive director of the International Fur Federation (IFF), shares the same opinion as Tom Tiffany. But he finds less kind words for it: “In Switzerland, administrative employees are at work without scientifically sound knowledge of the subject of fur,” the 61-year-old told the NZZ.
To make his point, Oaten mentions the bars of cages. Because the grid floors could injure animals’ paws, the Federal Council sees them as animal cruelty. However, Oaten believes that this reasoning has no scientific basis. «The alternatives to grid floors would be floors with straw. But then the animals would be lying in their own feces.” That’s not better, which is why the IFF suggested cages with grid floors and additional raised platforms with solid ground as an alternative.
Mink farms are considered animal cruelty in Switzerland.Image: Shutterstock
To show how serious the CEO is, he made it clear that the USA would see an embargo as a “hostile measure”. This could lead to the relationship between Switzerland and the USA “cooling down”.
This warning from the IFF comes even though only a fraction of the fur products imported into Switzerland come from the USA. Nevertheless, these statements are causing unrest in Switzerland – not least because of the ongoing customs negotiations with the USA. A spokesman for the Department of Economics, Education and Research confirmed to the NZZ that the federal government would be in contact with those affected.
Switzerland imports 350 tons of fur every year
The fur initiative, which seems to be endangering the relationship between Switzerland and the USA, comes from the Alliance Animale Suisse. The initiative would like to ban the trade in fur from “animal cruelty production”. This ban will apply from summer 2027 and will even be extended if the Federal Council has its way.
The fur producers are now hoping for the Council of States. This Wednesday, January 15th, the Council of States Commission for Science, Education and Culture will examine the proposal and hold hearings on it. If the initiators do not withdraw their demands, there will ultimately be a referendum. This would take place in 2027 at the earliest and 2028 at the latest.
According to estimates by animal protection organizations, 350 tons of fur are imported into Switzerland every year. The equivalent of one and a half million animals would have to die for this. In addition, many of these furs come from breeding farms in China. There the animals are kept and killed using cruel methods.
A representative watson survey from 2024 shows that the fur initiative enjoys great sympathy among the Swiss population. At that time, 89 percent were in favor or “somewhat” in favor.