VIER PFOTEN Calls for Effective Measures Against Foie Gras Imports
15.12.2025 | from VIER PFOTEN - Foundation for Animal Welfare
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15.12.2025, Foie gras is produced through cruel force-feeding, yet its import into Switzerland surges especially during the Advent and Christmas season. The popular initiative 'Yes to the Import Ban on Foie Gras' aims to change this. The Parliament has sent an indirect counterproposal for consultation, which ended on December 7. VIER PFOTEN has submitted a statement regarding this. The global animal welfare organisation welcomes the approach but warns against half-hearted solutions and calls for transparent monitoring with annual reports to ensure the effectiveness of the declaration obligation.
‘We demand a noticeable, measurable reduction in imports - not just minimal fluctuations. Ineffectual measures like time-limited imports or label restrictions are rejected by us, as they do not reduce animal suffering and may even worsen it. Instead, there is a need for information campaigns, even clearer labelling obligations, and the promotion of animal-friendly alternatives. We are committed to ensuring that effective measures are implemented around the import of foie gras products – up to a ban, if milder approaches do not show sufficient effect. Only this way can Switzerland ensure that animal suffering from force-feeding is effectively reduced,’ says Lauretta Eckhardt, Policy Manager at VIER PFOTEN Switzerland.
Media contact:
Oliver Loga
Press Manager Switzerland
VIER PFOTEN
– Foundation for Animal Welfare
Altstetterstrasse 124
8048 Zurich
Tel. +41 43 311 80
90
presse@vier-pfoten.ch
www.vier-pfoten.ch
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VIER PFOTEN - Foundation for Animal Welfare
VIER PFOTEN is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which identifies deficiencies, rescues animals in distress and protects them. Founded in 1988 by Heli Dungler and friends in Vienna, the organisation advocates for a world where people treat animals with respect, compassion, and understanding. The focus of their sustainable campaigns and projects includes stray dogs and cats as well as companion, farm, and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – from inappropriate housing and from disaster and conflict zones.
With offices in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Great Britain, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the USA and Vietnam, as well as sanctuaries for animals in need in eleven countries, VIER PFOTEN provides rapid assistance and long-term solutions. In Switzerland, the animal welfare foundation is a cooperation partner of the Arosa Bärenland, the first bear sanctuary providing rescued bears from poor living conditions with a habitat appropriate to their species.
Note: The "About Us" text is taken from public sources or from the company profile on HELP.ch.
Source: VIER PFOTEN - Foundation for Animal Welfare, Press release
Original article published on: VIER PFOTEN fordert wirksame Massnahmen gegen Stopfleberimporte