G/TBT/N/CHE/286  
12 April 2024  
(24-3088) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  SWITZERLAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO  
Holzikofenweg 36  
3003 Berne  
tbt@seco.admin.ch  
www.seco.admin.ch  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Furs and 
fur products that have been produced using methods that are crue l to animals (HS 
code(s): 43; ICS code(s): 59.140)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Ordinance on 
import, transit and export trade in animals and animal products with third countries / 
Ordinance on import, transit and exp ort 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; (16 page(s), in French), (16 
page(s), in German)  
6. Description of  content:  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 ar ea 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 me thods. 
During a two -year transitional period, a list of countries that prohibit cruel methods of fur 
production will be drawn up.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of public morals, animal welfare; Prevention of deceptive practices 
and consumer protection  G/TBT/N/CHE/286  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   
Link to ordinances currently in force:  
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  
Link to regulatory impact assessment on the introduction of declaration obligations and 
import restrictions for animal and plant products - Final report  (in German with French 
summary)  
• G/TBT/N/CHE/156  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  22 April 2025  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 July 2025; After entry into force there will be a 
two-year transition period.  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
State Secretariate for Economic Affairs SECO  
Holzikofenweg 36, 3003 Bern  
Switzerland  
E-mail: tbt@seco.admin.ch  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/CHE/24_02597_00_f.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachm ents/2024/TBT/CHE/24_02597_01_f.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/TBT/CHE/24_02597_02_f.pdf