Switzerland has become the first country in the world to ban both the import and the sale of fur. Parliament has backed the move.

The Swiss Federal Council banned fur imports produced with cruel methods last year. Now both chambers of parliament have approved putting the ban into the Animal Welfare Act and extending it to sales. A few technical details still need settling.

Shops and online sellers will have to prove their fur meets Swiss welfare standards. Products that cannot prove it can be pulled from shelves, with penalties for violations.

The change follows years of failure with labelling. Since 2013, sellers had to declare the species, origin and production method. But checks found more than 70% of inspected products had wrong or missing declarations.

There is a transition period. The import ban deadline is July 2029, and the sales ban follows in July 2030.

Switzerland imported over $30 million of fur apparel and skins in 2023. Animal groups say the ban could end that trade. Israel banned fur sales in 2021, but Switzerland is the first to block imports too.