Summary
On 24 June 2026, the Federal Council instructed the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) to conduct a consultation procedure for the revision of the Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds. The procedure was opened on 24 June 2026 and runs until 16 October 2026. Participants include cantons, political parties, umbrella associations of municipalities, cities and mountain regions, as well as business associations and interested circles.
Persons
- Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)
Topics
- Hunting law revision
- Wildlife protection
- Consultation procedure
- Federal consultation
Clarus Lead
The opening of the consultation procedure signals an impending legislative reform process in Swiss hunting and wildlife protection law. The three-month consultation period until October 2026 enables cantons, parties and interest groups to submit statements on the planned legal revision. This procedure is a central step in Swiss legislation and forms the basis for the subsequent parliamentary debate.
Detailed Summary
The consultation procedure was officially opened on 24 June 2026 and ends on 16 October 2026. DETEC coordinates the consultation with a broad circle of actors: cantons as federal partners, parties to ensure political legitimacy, national umbrella associations of municipalities, cities and mountain regions as representatives of local interests, as well as business associations and other interested circles. The revision concerns the Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds – a core area of Swiss nature and resource policy.
Key Statements
- Federal Council instructs DETEC to conduct a consultation procedure for hunting law revision
- Consultation period: 24 June to 16 October 2026
- Broad participation of cantons, parties, associations and interest groups
Critical Questions
Evidence: What scientific findings or empirical data underlie the planned revision, and how were these taken into account in problem formulation?
Conflicts of interest: Which interest groups (hunting associations, nature conservation organizations, agriculture) are represented in the consultation, and are their positions sufficiently balanced?
Causality: What specific problems of the existing hunting law are to be solved by the revision, and are there alternative approaches to solutions?
Feasibility: How will the results of the consultation be transferred to the parliamentary phase, and what timeline is planned for implementation?
Sources
Primary source: Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications – Opening of Consultation Hunting Law Revision – https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/dl/proj/2026/66/cons_1
Verification status: ✓ 25 June 2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 25 June 2026