Signatures gathered for fur and foie gras import bans
Published: Thursday, Dec 21st 2023, 19:10
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According to the initiators, the popular initiatives for a ban on the import of foie gras and a ban on the import of fur products produced in a cruel manner have been successful. Parliament only voted against a ban on the import of foie gras in mid-September.
The animal welfare organization Alliance Animale Suisse (AAS) announced on Thursday evening that the mark of 100,000 signatures for both initiatives had been far exceeded. However, many signatures still have to be confirmed by the municipalities. The deadline for submitting signatures is December 28.
Stuffing geese and ducks in Switzerland is considered animal cruelty and has been banned for over 40 years, the AAS emphasized. Despite this, Switzerland imports 200,000 kilograms of foie gras every year. To meet this demand, 400,000 ducks and 12,000 geese would have to be stuffed and killed every year.
In addition, Switzerland imports around 350 tons of fur every year, for which around 1.5 million animals are killed. More than half of these furs come from China, where some of the animals are skinned alive.
Animal welfare part of public ethics
The initiators do not fear any problems with free trade agreements, as they announced at the launch of the popular initiatives: "All agreements provide for exemptions for measures that are necessary to protect public morals and the life or health of animals," they explained.
In this context, Alliance Animale refers to the import bans on seal, dog and cat fur already enshrined in law. In addition, the highest court of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has expressly recognized that animal welfare is part of public ethics.
The two popular initiatives were launched in September 2022. Well-known personalities such as the journalist Erich Gysling, the TV presenter Kurt Aeschbacher, the then Councillor of States Thomas Minder (non-party/SH) and the then National Councillor Doris Fiala (FDP/ZH) supported the two initiatives.
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