February 1st: 2025 car sticker
On this day, the grace period for not having the 2025 vignette (either the paper or digital version) is coming to an end.
If you are caught driving without it on a Swiss motorway, you could be fined 200 francs.
The 40-franc sticker, which can be purchased from petrol stations, post offices, border crossings, or online, is obligatory for all vehicles driving on Swiss motorways, regardless of whether you are a resident, tourist, or are just transiting through the country.
This map shows on which roads the vignette is compulsory.
February 1st: New puppy import rules to go into effect
If you are looking to purchase a puppy from abroad, know that under a new amendment to the Animal Protection Ordinance, which will be enacted from February 1st, importing dogs aged under 15 weeks old will be forbidden.
This ban concerns mostly those who want to import dogs for resale.
However, if may be permitted for a private owner to go abroad and purchase a younger puppy from a breeder, and bring it to Switzerland with all the required documents and proof of vaccinations.
February 1st: Cracking down on wolves
Though wolves remain a protected species in Switzerland, “in recent years, the wolf population has increased exponentially. At the same time, wolf attacks on livestock have increased significantly,” according to the Federal Council.
Therefore, an amended hunting legislation that goes into effect on February 1st, allows cantons to shoot wolves to prevent possible damage.
This can be done only under strict conditions, however.
As the government explains: “there must be a risk to livestock and herd protection measures must have been implemented. Some of the young wolves may be culled if these conditions are met. Entire packs may only be culled if they exhibit undesirable behaviour and this measure does not lead to the number of packs in the region falling below the minimum number.”
February 5th: Nationwide alarm system to be tested
The 5,000 fixed and 2,200 mobile sirens in Switzerland will be tested on February 5th, as they are every year on the first Wednesday of February.
The test will be conducted between 1:30 pm and 4 pm.
Communication channels on the Alertswiss app will also be tested.
The signal – a steady oscillating siren lasting one minute – is intended to alert the population of an impending emergency or disaster.
The second siren, used to warn people who live near dams of impending water-related danger, is a series of 12 bursts of 20 seconds each at ten-second intervals.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about Switzerland’s annual siren test
February 9th: Switzerland votes
In the first round of national referendums, Swiss citizens will decide on the so-called ‘Environmental Responsibility Initiative.’
Launched by environmental groups, animal rights activists, and the political left, the proposal requires that economic activities do not consume more resources and release more pollutants into the environment than is allowed for the preservation of natural resources.
The Federal Council and the parliament, on the other hand, are urging voters to turn down the initiative, arguing that Switzerland already has strong environmental protection laws, and the new measure would have “serious consequences for the economy and population.”
Some referendums will also take place on a local level.
Foremost among them will be in Basel-Country and Solothurn — voters in both cantons will decide whether to accept the minimum hourly wage of 22 and 23 francs, respectively.
February 20th: Out of the darkness...light!
On this day, daylight speeds up to three minutes per day, according to the Almanac, a very useful annual calendar that contains astronomical data and tide tables, among other information.
“On the 20th, the day length is 10 hours, 53 minutes, and on the 21st, it's 10 hours, 56 minutes," it says. Before this date daylight hours are roughly increasing by around two minutes.
This means that dark early mornings and dark early evenings are on the way out.
Hopefully, spring in on its way in.
Throughout the month: Ski holidays
Like every year, February is traditional “family ski” month in most of Switzerland, when children get up to two weeks off school so families can head to mountain resorts.
Dates of this winter holidays vary among cantons; you can see the ones for your region here. In some cantons like Zurich and Aargau the holiday dates can vary within the canton.
Ben McPartland, Editor, The Local Europe
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