English Summary | Anti Fur League

Summary in English

The Anti Fur League (AFL) is an independent group of anti-fur activists with the goal of raising awareness about the issue of real fur in fashion. By organizing the annual March Against Fur in Zurich and by providing a platform for activists, we fight for an import ban of fur products to Switzerland and contribute to the international resistance.

Why is this important?

Currently, there is a political motion to ban the import of real fur products to Switzerland. With an according campaign called "We Care - We Don't Wear", Campax has collected over 38'000 signatures to support the cause. In December 2021, the Swiss Natoinal Council (Nationalrat) has voted for the motion with an overwhelming majority of 144 to 31 votes. We are now waiting for the Council of States (Ständerat) to make a final decision in spring 2022. // Excerpts from petitiom text:

Cruelty to animals

The methods of fur trapping (leghold traps, snares and manslaughter traps) and breeding (narrow cages with wire mesh floors) used abroad on commercial "fur farms" - from which 85% of the fur comes - clearly fulfill the criteria of animal cruelty according to Swiss law. // The same applies to killing: There is usually no obligation to stun the animals beforehand. Because workers are under time pressure, the animals are brutally slaughtered, poisoned, gassed, strangled or electrocuted - and often skinned while still conscious. The common forms of fur production thus contradict fundamental values of the Swiss population.

Environmental pollution

Contrary to the general opinion that fur is a "natural" product, its processing is a highly toxic chemical process. During processing, the raw skin of an animal must first be treated with a mixture of chemicals after skinning to protect the fur from decay and decomposition. These chemicals must then be disposed of and often end up in the nearest body of water. This means harsh working conditions and massive environmental pollution. 1] Since there are almost no tanneries in Europe - precisely because this is such a highly toxic process - the vast majority of furs are flown to China for processing.

Health risk for consumers and workers

Research has shown that fur products are contaminated with a number of harmful chemical toxins (e.g. formaldehyde and chromium 6). This also applies to children's clothing. 2] These are a health hazard for consumers and workers.

Fur Declaration Ordinance (PDV)

The PDV has been in force in Switzerland since 2014 - with the aim of reducing the sale of fur. However, this is rarely implemented correctly: 70% of the controlled shops still declare insufficiently or not at all. Samples taken by authorities, animal welfare organisations and the media have also shown that consumers are often deliberately misled when they have critical questions about fur production and thus encouraged to buy. [3] A revision of the PDV now plans to introduce the term "origin unknown", which would be unthinkable for productssuch as eggs or meat. Even the terms "individual" and "group husbandry" say nothing about animal-friendly husbandry.

--> Even an optimally designed and implemented declaration obligation could not prevent fur products obtained by cruelty to animals from continuing to be imported and sold. Therefore, only a fur import ban can prevent fur products produced in a cruelty to animals from finding their way into Swiss shops.

--> Support this cause and sign the petition now!

[1] https://antifur.wixsite.com/afl2022/pelz
[2] Krauter, 2011 [https://www.tierimrecht.org/documents/2024/2011_Report_Gift_im_Pelz_II_VIER_PFOTEN_und_ECOAID_small.pdf]
[3] tierimrecht.org/de/ueber-uns/publikationen/argumentarium/pelz/

Read more about the popular initiative to ban the import of fur to Switzerland on go to FAQs.