Guide for selling fur products: Information for sellers
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Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
Guide for selling fur products:
Information for sellers
(Finn-) Raccoon dog fur (Finn-) Raccoon dog ©Viesinsh – Adobe Stock
Red fox fur Red fox ©Paolo – Adobe Stock
Raccoon fur Raccoon ©moosehenderson
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
1 Information about the Fur Declaration Ordinance
An inspection under the Fur Declaration Ordinance (Pelzdeklarationsverordnung, PDV, SR 944.022)
has been carried out in your business. This booklet is intended to provide background information
about the Ordinance.
It also contains additional guidance on how to make the necessary corrections if any objections have
been identified. Please read the following information carefully to avoid any further measures being
taken.
2 What is the Fur Declaration Ordinance?
A «fur declaration requirement» applies to all market participants in Switzerland who sell domestic or
foreign furs and fur products to consumers.
Furs and fur products that are subject to this requirement and sold in Switzerland must bear the following
information in German, French or Italian:
«real fur»
animal species (zoological and scientific name);
origin;
method of production.
The declaration must be written on the product clearly and legibly, in at least one official Swiss
language (German, French or Italian). You may additionally also have the English version on the label.
The Fur Declaration Ordinance applies to all furs and fur products obtained from mammals, with the
exception of:
domesticated animals of the equine, bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species;
llamas and alpacas.
Declaration requirement for online and mail-order catalogue offers
Furs and fur products offered for sale via the internet or in mail-order catalogues are also subject to
the Fur Declaration Ordinance under certain conditions and must therefore be declared.
Online offers
Online suppliers whose offer consists only to a small extent of fur and fur products are also re-
garded as market participants. In the case of online trading, goods must be declared in the prod-
uct description text or in a “pop-up” window.
Catalogue sales
Catalogues distributed to consumers in Switzerland must declare any furs and fur products of-
fered, irrespective of the supplier’s place of business.
The declaration requirement has been implemented on the basis of the Consumer Information Act (Con-
sumIA, SR 944.0).
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) ascertains whether declarations comply with the
provisions of the Ordinance. FSVO inspections are carried out:
in the form of spot checks at the points of sale; or
in the form of targeted checks based on sound evidence that a declaration is not compliant.
After the inspection, an inspection report is handed to the sales outlet.
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
3 After the inspection
After the inspection you will receive an inspection report; please read it carefully. It contains the results
of the inspection and, if necessary, provides instructions on how to make corrections. If the inspection
finds that the declaration requirement has been infringed, a fee will be charged to cover the costs of the
inspection. The hourly rate is CHF 200. The invoice will be sent to you by post after the inspection.
In the measures section, we will explain how to prove to us that the declaration has been corrected. The
following documents should be submitted to the FSVO:
Copies of labels: Please send us copies of the labels you have produced. Your statement
should indicate the product to which the label relates, how many labels have been produced,
and the species, origin and production method concerned.
Photos of articles with labels: Please send us photos of the corrections you have made,
referring to the objection number on the inspection report.
Tables for the statement: Please complete this table. Indicate each objection on the
inspection report clearly.
Example:
No Real fur Article name Animal species Scientific Origin Production method
statement Zoological name name
(in German, Latin name (in German, (in German, French
French or (in German, French French or or Italian)
Italian) or Italian) Italian)
(Art. 2 PDV) (Art. 3
(Art. 3 PDV) (Art. 4 PDV) (Art. 5 PDV)
PDV)
Example 1 Real fur & Canada Coyote Canis Canada Chase with traps, not
Echtpelz Goose jacket latrans authorized in
with fur collar Switzerland & aus in
der Schweiz nicht zu-
gelassener Fallen-
jagd
Example 2 Real fur & Coat with fur American mink & vi- Neovison Finland
Cage-reared with
fourrure véri- part son vison forma wire floors not au-
table domestica thorized in Switzer-
land & élevage en
cage sur sol grillagé
non autorisé en
Suisse
If applicable, delivery documents: The inspection found that the declaration/origin of the
information was not clear. Please send us documents that substantiate the information on the
labels.
If applicable, other: If other measures are to be taken, these will be listed and explained.
The aim is for you to demonstrate in as much detail as possible how you have rectified the defi-
ciencies, and for all articles to be declared in accordance with the Ordinance. This will avoid the
need for a follow-up inspection in the near future.
Once you have proved that the deficiencies have been rectified, we will confirm this in writing and close
the file. We reserve the right to carry out follow-up inspections. If, after receiving your statement, we find
that not all deficiencies have been rectified, we will send you further instructions.
If you do not submit a statement to the FSVO within the deadline (normally 30 days), an order will be
imposed making the correction chargeable. Failure to comply with this order may lead to a penalty under
Article 11 of the Consumer Information Act of 5 October 1990. Criminal proceedings will be brought by
the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER).
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
4 Examples of labels according to the fur declaration Ordinance
A declaration of furs is correct and complete if it states “real fur” and specifies the species of animal,
the scientific name, the country of origin and the method for producing the pelt (hunting and breeding).
This information must be clearly visible on the product and easily legible in at least one official lan-
guage (art. 7 PDV).
1 Statement «real fur» Real fur
2 Species indicate the scientific name of the animal species
3 Zoological name indicate the zoological name of the animal species
The country of origin of the pelt is the country in which the animal was
4 Country of origin
hunted or in which it was bred and reared until slaughter age.
a) wild animal: «chased with traps not authorized in Switzerland»
or «chased without traps»
5 Production method b) Bred animal: «reared in cages with grid floors not authorized in Switzer-
land», «reared in cages without grid floors», «reared in cages without grid
floors and fixed walls» or «held in parks»
Jacket with fur collar from a farm on grid floors
© Adobe Stock - Ivan_Uralsky
Rabbit fur gloves, from a farm in China
© Adobe Stock - Liaurinko
Complete fur apparel of a Swiss red Fox
© Adobe Stock - rustamir
Jacket with polar fox fur collar from a farm in Finland
© Adobe Stock - zhinna
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
5 FAQs
Questions Answers
The following five items of information are always required: labels
must contain information (in German, French or Italian plus scientific
What information is required on the
name) on the animal species, origin and method of production. Also,
labels?
it has to state “real fur”. Sample labels can be found in Section 4 of
this document.
Does the declaration requirement
Yes, the Ordinance on the declaration of furs and fur products applies
also apply to clothing with fur trims
to all products made of fur or containing fur parts.
and/or fur collars?
Do articles in mail order catalogues
or on the Internet also have to be Yes. The goods must be declared in the product description.
declared?
I don’t know the scientific name Chapter 7 contains a list (mostly in French) of trade names, common
(Latin name) of the animal species. names and scientific names of the species frequently used in the fur
What should I do? trade.
The aim of this Ordinance is to raise consumer awareness and pro-
What is the aim of the Fur Declara- vide information about products offered for sale. It is intended to cre-
tion Ordinance? ate transparency to ensure that the public is well informed when mak-
ing purchasing decisions.
We source our fur products from
Yes. The responsibility lies with the seller in Switzerland, not with the
other countries and don’t know the
supplier. Contact your suppliers to request information about their fur
details of the furs. Do we still have
products.
to declare them?
What happens if I don’t do any- Once the deadline set by the FSVO has expired, an order will be is-
thing? sued as a first measure; criminal proceedings may be initiated later.
If you have declared everything correctly, you will not be charged any
Does this inspection involve any
inspection costs. If deficiencies are found, the inspection will be made
costs?
chargeable.
When can the following declaration
If the products come from old stocks, for example, or if the supply
be made regarding the production
chain is verifiably not fully traceable back to the first producer, the la-
method “Origin unknown – may be
bel may be worded thus in accordance with Art. 5 para. 3 of the Ordi-
from a breeding or a chase not au-
nance.
thorized in Switzerland”?
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
6 Background Information
The most frequently offered fur products in Switzerland are listed in the following Table. The list is not
exhaustive, rather it shows the usual countries of origin and methods of production. The headings “in-
formation 2-5” used therein refer to four of the five pieces of information that must be contained in
each fur label. In addition, the declaration "real fur" must always be attached.
Animal species Production
Origin
and Latin name method Use Example of fur Animal photo
Information 3
Information 1 and 2 Information 4
Breeding ani-
Finn-Raccoon
mal: "from Trim on hoods
Asia cages with grid Fur bobble
Nyctereutes
Europe floors not per- Trade name:
procyonoides forma
mitted in Swit- Finn - Raccoon
domestica
zerland"
©Viesinsh - Adobe Stock
Trim on hoods,
Red fox Wild catch:
Fur bobble
Switzerland "from hunting
complete fur ap-
Vulpes vulpes without traps"
parel
©Paolo - Adobe Stock
Breeding ani-
Red fox mal: "from Trim on hoods,
Skandinavien
cages with grid Fur bobble
Kanada
Vulpes vulpes forma floors not per- complete fur ap-
USA
domestica mitted in Swit- parel
zerland"
© Jesper Clausen
Breeding ani-
Rabbit Europe mal: "from
Inner lining
North Amer- cages with grid
Trim on jackets,
Oryctolagus cunicu- ica floors not per-
coats
lus forma domestica Asia mitted in Swit-
zerland"
©Jearu - Adobe Stock
Breeding ani-
Mink Scandinavia mal: "from
complete fur ap-
Holland cages with grid
parel,
Neovison vison USA floors not per-
Trim
forma domestica Canada mitted in Swit-
zerland"
© Jesper Clausen
Breeding ani-
Polar fox Trim,
Scandinavia, mal: "from
Vulpes (Alopex) Poland, Rus- cages with grid Fur bobble
lagopus forma do- sia, USA, Ca- floors not per-
complete fur ap-
mestica nada mitted in Swit-
parel
zerland"
© Jesper Clausen
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
Animal species Production
Origin
and Latin name method Use Example of fur Animal photo
Information 3
Information 1 and 2 Information 4
Wild catch: "from
Trim on hoods
trapping not per-
Coyote North and
mitted in Switzer-
Central Amer- N.B. Subject to
land"
Canis latrans ica controls at mo-
or "from hunting
ment of import!
without traps" ©moosehenderson - Adobe Stock
Wild catch: "from
North Amer- trapping not per- Trim on hoods,
Raccoon
ica mitted in Switzer- Fur bobble
Finland land" Trade name:
Procyon lotor
Germany or "from hunting Raccoon
©moosehenderson - Adobe Stock
without traps"
Method of produc-
Description Picture
tion
Breeding animal: "from The animal was kept in a cage and reared, wherein the floor consists
cages with grid floors of a grid.
not permitted in Switzer-
land" Example: raccoon dog, mink, rabbit, arctic fox
© Jesper Clausen
“Live capture” or “killing” traps are used. In the case of live capture,
Wild catch: "from trap- the frequency with which traps are checked is crucial. The use of
traps is regulated by national legislation. According to import agree-
ping not permitted in ments with the EU, only “humane” traps to ISO standards are permit-
Switzerland" ted in Russia, Canada and the USA.
© Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources
naturelles1
Example: coyote, lynx, sable, wolf, beaver, raccoon, muskrat
Wild catch: The animal was hunted and killed with firearms.
"from hunting without
traps" Example: red fox, lynx
© Adobe Stock – Maurice Tricatelle
Farms which keep their animals in cages with a solid floor (e.g. artificial or grass floor) and where
Breeding animal: "from the floor is not a grid floor. Rarely used method for keeping animals for the production of fur be-
cages without grid floors
" cause the fur is so easily soiled.
Example: Chinchilla
Cages are kept with fixed walls. Rabbits, for example, use a cave as a
Breeding animal: place of retreat. Accordingly, they feel less stressed in cages with vis-
«reared in cages with- ual protection. In addition, they often have more space and bedding in
out grid floors and fixed this type of housing.
walls» This declaration option describes the widely used box housing (Boxen- © Adobe Stock – Alexey
haltung) of rabbits in Switzerland. Kuznetsov
Animals that are surrounded by a fence and the enclosure is open at the top. This may apply to ani-
Breeding animal: «held mals kept outdoors with access to natural ground or on earth. In the fur trade, however, the latter
in parks» skins are rarely found.
Example: Reindeer, barn management Rabbit (Buchtenhaltung Kaninchen)
1 https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/publications/enligne/faune/reglementation-piegeage/pdf/pieges-vivants.pdf; Ministère de l'Énergie et
des Ressources naturelles, Québec: 08.06.2020
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
7 List of Designations of Animal Species Most Often Used in the Fur Trade
The provisions on imports shall govern controls (453.1 ordonnance sur les contrôles CITES).
Trade name Zoological denominations Scientific name Special feature/
Control
Renard des steppes Renard corsac ou Renard des steppes Vulpes corsac (Alopex corsac) Oui
Pine marten : Martre des pins Martre des pins Martes martes Oui
Beaver : Castor Castor du Canada Castor canadensis Non
Muskrat : Rat musqué Rat musqué Ondatra zibethica Non
Coyote Coyote ou loup des prairies ou chacal aboyeur Canis latrans Oui
Cat: Chat Cyper, chat Räder, chat Müller, chat Feuer, Chat domestique Felis catus (Felis silvestris catus) Trade banned in
chat Genotte, chat Schecken Switzerland
Renard gris sud-américain Renard de Magellan Dusicyon culpaeus Oui
Finn-raccoon Forme d'élevage du chien viverrin Nyctereutes procyonoides Forma Non
domestica
Fisher, Pekan, Pecan ou Virgin. Putois Pékan, Martre pêcheuse, Martre de Pennant Martes pennanti Oui
Dog : Gae-Wolf (fourrure du chien domestique élevé en Chien domestique Canis familiaris Trade banned in
Corée, en Chine et en Mongolie à des fins alimentaires Switzerland
ou retourné à l'état sauvage (chien paria)
Renard gris Renard gris d'Amérique ou Renard des arbres Urocyon cinereoargentus Oui
Hermine Hermine Mustela erminea Oui
Putois Putois d'Europe Mustela putorius Oui
Rabbit : Lapin rex Lapin de garenne ou lapin commun Oryctolagus cuniculus forma do- Non
mestica
Renard nain, Kitfuchs, kit fox Renard nain Vulpes macrotis Oui
Renard véloce, Kitfuchs ou Swiftfuchs Renard véloce Vulpes velox Oui
Lynxe : Lynx Lynx Lynx lynx (Felis lynx) CITES Annex ll/
Oui
Renard gris, Renard de Magellan, Renard Rio-Negro Renard gris d'Argentine Lycalopex griseus (Dusicyon CITES Annex ll/
griseus) Oui
Enok, tanuki Chien viverrin ou Enok Nyctereutes procyonoides Non
Ragondin Ragondin ou castor des marais Myocastor coypus Non
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
Trade name Zoological denominations Scientific name Special feature/
Control
Red fox : Renard roux Renard roux ou renard commun Vulpes vulpes Non
Chacal à chabraque Chacal à chabraque Canis mesomelas Oui
Chacal Chacal doré Canis aureus Oui
Otaries Otaries à fourrure Arctocephalus spp. CITES Annex ll/
Oui
Silver fox : Renard argenté, Renard de Sibérie Renard argenté (forme argentée du Renard Vulpes vulpes forma domestica Non
roux)
Fouine Fouine Martes foina Oui
Raccoon : Raton laveur Raton laveur commun Procyon lotor Non
Renard bleu, renard shadow Renard polaire ou renard arctique Vulpes (Alopex) lagopus forma do- Non
mestica
Belette, weasel Belette ou Petite belette Mustela nivalis Oui
Mink : Vison, mink Vison d'Amérique Neovison vison Non
Sable : Zibeline Zibeline Martes zibellina Oui
Bred chinchilla: Chinchillas d'élevage: chinchilla stand- Spécimens d'élevage de Chincilla à longue Chinchilla lanigera forma domestica Oui
ard, chincilla argenté, chincilla pastel, chinchilla Black- queue ou Chincilla lanigère
Velvet-
Dénominations commerciales des renards d'élevage: re- Renard roux d'élevage Vulpes vulpes forma domestica Non
nard argenté, renard platine, renard Amber, renard
Dawn-Glo, renard Sun-Glo, renard croisé
Putois d'élevage Putois d'Europe d'élevage Mustela putorius Oui
Bred mink : Dénominations d'élevage du vison d'élevage Vison d'Amérique d'élevage Neovison vison forma domestica Non
(vison muté): vison pastel, vison bleu argent, vison sa-
phir, vison Demi-Buff, vison Dark. Procédés de fabrica-
tion: Black Glama, vison bleu, vison gris, vison ivoire,
Demi-Buff
Ragondins d'élevage: ragondin pastel, ragondin Amber, Ragondin d'élevage Myocastor coypus forma domestica Non
ragondin Gold-standard. Procédés de fabrication: ragon-
din Patagon, ragondin Kamtschatka, ragondin Spitz
Bred sable : Zibeline d'élevage Zibeline d'élevage Martes zibellina Oui
Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
8. Legislation (no official translation) Ordinance 944.022 on the Declaration of
Furs and Fur Products – (Fur Declaration Ordinance)
of 7 December 2012 (status as at 1 April 2020)
2
The Swiss Federal Council, having regard to Article 4 of the Consumer Information Act of 5 October 1990
3
and Article 46a of the Government and Administration Organisation Act of 21 March 1997 , decrees:
Section 1: Scope and definitions
Article 1 Scope
This Ordinance regulates the declaration requirements for furs and fur products sold to consumers, and the
inspection of declarations.
Article 2 Definitions
For the purposes of this Ordinance, the following definitions apply:
a. Fur: the pelt of mammals, with the exception of:
1. domesticated animals of the equine, bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species,
2. llamas and alpacas;
b. Fur product: an article made from fur or containing fur.
Section 2: Declaration requirements
Article 2a4 Declaration of the authenticity of the fur. Any person who sells furs or fur products to consumers
must have the "real fur" declaration on them.
Article 3 Declaration of animal species
Any person supplying furs or fur products to consumers must indicate the scientific name and zoological name
of the animal species from which the pelt is obtained.
Article 4 Declaration of origin of pelt
1 Any person supplying furs or fur products to consumers must declare the origin of the pelt.
2 The country of origin of the pelt is the country in which the animal was hunted or in which it was bred and
reared until slaughter age.
3 If the country of origin of the pelt cannot be established, the most specific possible geographical area from
which the animal originates must be indicated. 4
4 If it can be proved that the origin of the fur cannot be attributed to any geographical area, the declaration
"Origin unknown" shall be made. 4
Article 5 Declaration of production method of pelt
1 Any person supplying furs or fur products to consumers must declare the production method of the pelt.
2 The production method must be declared as follows:
b. wild animal: «chased with traps not authorized in Switzerland» or «chased without traps»
c. Bred animal: «reared in cages with grid floors not authorized in Switzerland», «reared in cages
without grid floors», «reared in cages without grid floors and fixed walls» or «held in parks» 4
3 If a declaration in accordance with paragraph 2 is not possible, the following wording must be used: “method
of production unknown - may come from a form of husbandry or hunting not permitted in Switzerland”. 4
Article 6 Declaration of products composed of multiple pelts
If the product consists of more than three pelts from different animal species, places of origin or production
methods, the declarations required in Articles 3 to 5 must be made for the three main pelts represented in the
product.
Article 74 Place and language of declaration
1 The origin and production method of the pelt, and the animal species from which the pelt is obtained, must
be written clearly and legibly on the product itself. The declaration must be written on a label glued or other-
wise affixed to the product, or on the price tag.
2 Declarations as required in Articles 2a to 6 must be made in at least one official language of the Swiss
Confederation.
2 SR 944.0
3 SR 172.010
4 Valid since 1 April 2020 (RO 2020 611)Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
Section 3: Inspection of declarations
Article 8 Self-inspection
1 Any person supplying furs or fur products to consumers must ensure compliance with the requirements in
Articles 3 to 7.4
2 Such persons must set up systems and procedures by which the necessary information can be provided to
the authorities free of charge at their request.
Article 9 Inspection agency
1 The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)5 ascertains whether declarations comply with the
provisions of this Ordinance.
2 It may call in private or public bodies to carry out the inspections.
3 It may require the Federal Customs Administration to communicate import declaration data on specified
furs and fur products for a fixed period of time.
Article 10 Performance of inspections
1 FSVO inspections are carried out:
a. in the form of spot checks at the points of sale; or
b. in the form of targeted checks based on sound evidence that a declaration is not compliant.
2 The FSVO may inspect delivery notes, contracts, invoices and any other required documents and, if nec-
essary, take samples for identification purposes and arrange for them to be tested. To this end it may, during
normal working hours, enter the business premises of the person supplying the furs or fur products to con-
sumers.
3 If the inspection finds that the declaration does not comply with the provisions of this Ordinance, the FSVO
will communicate the results of the inspection to the person supplying the furs or fur products to consumers,
and give him or her an opportunity to comment.
4 The FSVO orders the declaration to be corrected.4
Article 11 Fees
1 If the inspection finds that the declaration requirement has been infringed, the person infringing the require-
ment will be charged a fee to cover the cost of the inspection.
2 This fee is based on the time required.
3 The hourly rate is CHF 200.
4 The provisions of the General Fees Ordinance of 8 September 2004 6 are otherwise applicable.
Section 4: Penalties
Article 12
Any person who infringes the declaration requirements under Articles 2a to 7 will be subject to penalties in
accordance with Article 11 of the Consumer Information Act of 5 October 1990.
Section 5: Final provisions
7
Article 13 Amendment of current legislation…
Article 14 Transitional provision
Furs and fur products which do not comply with the provisions of this Ordinance may continue to be supplied
to consumers until 28 February 2014.
Article 14a Furs and fur products which do not comply with the provisions of the amendment of 19 Feb-
ruary 2020 may continue to be declared until 31 August 2020 in accordance with existing legislation and may
be sold to consumers thereafter until stocks are exhausted.
Article 15 Entry into force
This Ordinance enters into force on 1 March 2013.
5 Thedesignation of the administrative unit was amended on 1 Jan. 2014 in accordance with Art.16, paragraph3, of the Publication Ordi-
nance of 17 Nov. 2004 (SR 170.512.1). The amendment was made throughout the text.
6 SR 172.041.1
7 The amendment can be consulted under AS 2013 579.Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO
International Affairs / Species Conservation
9 Specialist contact
Any questions in connection with the Fur Declaration Ordinance may be sent to the following address:
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office
Species Conservation – Fur Declaration Ordinance
Schwarzenburgstrasse 155
3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)58 462 25 41
E-mail: cites@blv.admin.ch
www.blv.admin.ch/declaration-fursYou can also read
