Pressure builds for ban on trade in cat hides
An animal protection group has handed in a petition calling for a trade ban on cat fur in Switzerland.
Organisers said the campaign, launched in September, had registered the support of almost 120,000 people.
On its website, SOS Chats (SOS Cats) invited citizens to show their support as it delivered the petition to the federal authorities in the capital Bern on Thursday.
Animal welfare organisations, politicians from various political parties and celebrities, including Brigitte Bardot and former Miss Switzerland Lauriane Gilliéron, had championed the effort.
Critics warned Switzerland could turn into a European hub as only the import of cat hides is illegal under current law.
The Federal Veterinary Office stated earlier this year that it did not believe the production of cat skins to be very large.
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