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WTO notification · TBT

SwitzerlandUpdated: check whether it is now adopted or in force

Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof

Official title

Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with third countries / Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and Northern Ireland / Ordinance on the list of countries related to the import of furs and fur products

Switzerland issued an addendum on 8 June 2026 to the earlier TBT notification G/TBT/N/CHE/286. Addenda often report that a measure was adopted, changed, postponed or withdrawn. The measure was first notified on 12 April 2024. The comment period closed on 9 February 2025.

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Source: WTO ePing (opens in a new tab). Summaries by Expodite, which is independent of the WTO.

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At a glance

Products

Furs and fur products that have been produced using methods that are cruel to animals

HS codes
  • 43 · Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof
    • 43
Notifying member
Switzerland
Status
Updated: check whether it is now adopted or in force
Objectives
  • Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection
  • Other
Area
TBT: Technical product rulesTechnical barriers to trade
Notification type
Regular notification
Document symbol
G/TBT/N/CHE/286Latest notice: G/TBT/N/CHE/286/Add.2
Keywords
Animal welfare

Key dates

Distributed by the WTO
Comment deadline
Closed on 9 February 2025
Proposed adoption
Proposed entry into force

How to comment

The comment period closed on 9 February 2025. You can still raise concerns about the measure with your country's WTO TBT enquiry point, quoting the document symbol G/TBT/N/CHE/286/Add.2; it can take them up with Switzerland.

Find your country's enquiry point on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)

What the notification says

Latest notice (⁨G/TBT/N/CHE/286/Add.2⁩, 8 June 2026)

Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with third countries / Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and Northern Ireland / Ordinance on the list of countries related to the import of furs and fur products

This amendment aims to extend the transitional periods (until June 2029 for import and June 2030 for sale) regarding the ban on importing furs and fur products obtained through methods that are cruel to animals. This extension is necessary as the implementation of compliant production methods and related certification processes is not yet fully in place.

The draft ordinance foresees to prohibit the import of fur and fur products produced using methods cruel to animals. The term 'cruel to animals' is defined based on the guiding principles of the World Organisation for Animal Health WOAH in the area of animal welfare, in particular the principles of 'freedom from pain, injury and disease' and 'freedom from fear and distress'. The import ban is considered necessary because the declaration obligation for fur that has been in force since 2014 has been persistently disregarded. The import ban does not apply to furs and fur products that originate from a country that prohibits cruel methods of production or if a certificate confirms that these products were not produced using the prohibited production methods. During a two-year transitional period, a list of countries that prohibit cruel methods of fur production will be drawn up.

Notices on this measure

Every notice about this measure published here, newest first. Each one is the notifying member's own text.

  1. AddendumG/TBT/N/CHE/286/Add.2

    Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with third countries / Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and Northern Ireland / Ordinance on the list of countries related to the import of furs and fur products

    This amendment aims to extend the transitional periods (until June 2029 for import and June 2030 for sale) regarding the ban on importing furs and fur products obtained through methods that are cruel to animals. This extension is necessary as the implementation of compliant production methods and related certification processes is not yet fully in place.

    Open on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Official WTO document (opens in a new tab)Notified document (French) (opens in a new tab)Notified document 2 (opens in a new tab)

  2. AddendumG/TBT/N/CHE/286/Add.1

    Comment deadline: Closed on 9 February 2025

    Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with third countries / Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and Northern Ireland

    The following changes have been made to the originally notified version: There will be no list of countries from which furs and fur products may be imported without a certificate. To facilitate market surveillance, all furs and fur products must be accompanied by a certificate stating that they were not produced using methods that are cruel to animals according to the guiding principles of the World Organisation for Animal Health WOAH. The certificate must be issued by a certification body certifying production facilities for fur and fur products based on ISO/IEC 17067. Foreign certification bodies are recognised if they are accredited as a conformity assessment body in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065.

    Open on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Official WTO document (opens in a new tab)Notified document 1 (opens in a new tab)Notified document 2 (opens in a new tab)

  3. Regular notificationG/TBT/N/CHE/286

    Comment deadline: Closed on 11 June 2024

    Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with third countries / Ordinance on import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with EU Member States, Iceland and Norway and Northern Ireland / Ordinance on the list of countries related to the import of furs and fur products

    The draft ordinance foresees to prohibit the import of fur and fur products produced using methods cruel to animals. The term 'cruel to animals' is defined based on the guiding principles of the World Organisation for Animal Health WOAH in the area of animal welfare, in particular the principles of 'freedom from pain, injury and disease' and 'freedom from fear and distress'. The import ban is considered necessary because the declaration obligation for fur that has been in force since 2014 has been persistently disregarded. The import ban does not apply to furs and fur products that originate from a country that prohibits cruel methods of production or if a certificate confirms that these products were not produced using the prohibited production methods. During a two-year transitional period, a list of countries that prohibit cruel methods of fur production will be drawn up.

    Open on WTO ePing (opens in a new tab)Official WTO document (opens in a new tab)Notified document (French) (opens in a new tab)Notified document (French) (opens in a new tab)Notified document (French) (opens in a new tab)

Sources

Expodite writes its summary from the official record. The notification and the documents it notifies are on the WTO's own websites.

All updates from Switzerland

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    Symbol: G/TBT/N/CHE/306Comments until 13 December 2026

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    Draft Amendment of the Chemicals Act

    The national poison center provides important services to the public and healthcare professionals in cases of poisoning. However, the center’s funding is not adequately regulated. The current Chemicals Act provides for the designation and financial support of a poison center by the federal…

    Symbol: G/TBT/N/CHE/305Comments until 2 January 2027

  3. WTO notificationTBTProposed measure, open for comments

    Amendment of Annexes 2 and 3 of the Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Chemicals Ordinance; ChemO)

    Annex 2 ChemO: 1. Harmonized classifications and labelling of substances (24th ATP of the EU-CLP regulation): 38 substances or groups of substances are added to the List of harmonized classifications and labeling of dangerous substances, and 9 existing entries are modified. 2. The latest…

    Symbol: G/TBT/N/CHE/304Comments until 2 January 2027

  4. WTO notificationTBTProposed measure, open for comments

    Draft revision of the ordinance on energy efficiency

    As part of the present revision of the Energy Efficiency Ordinance of November 1, 2017 (EnEV; SR 730.02), adaptations to EU law are being made. Energy efficiency requirements are adapted to EU law in Annexes 1.18 (Local Space Heaters) and 2.2 (external power supplies). The existing exception to EU…

    Symbol: G/TBT/N/CHE/303Comments until 16 November 2026

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