Foraging in Switzerland

Federal rules, cantonal limits and VAPKO inspection.

VAPKO inspection

282 official inspection points, with opening hours and contacts.

Find an inspection point View on the MycoRadar map

Federal framework

The Ordinance on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage (NCHO, art. 20, annex 2) protects certain mushroom species throughout Switzerland. The cantons may also set their own quantity limits and protected periods.

Rules by canton

Quantity limits, protected periods and other rules for each canton, as compiled by VAPKO.

Aargau
Other rules
Organized collecting is prohibited. Harvesting for commercial purposes requires authorization.
- Official source
Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Quantity
2 kg
Other rules
Only pick fully developed mushrooms, carefully and by hand. Except for educational excursions, group or commercial collecting is prohibited.
Appenzell Innerrhoden
Quantity
2 kg
Other rules
Only pick fully developed mushrooms, carefully and by hand.
Basel-Landschaft
Other rules
No regulation.
Basel-Stadt
Other rules
No regulation.
Bern
Quantity
2 kg
Other rules
Except for educational excursions, organized collecting is prohibited.
- Official source
Fribourg
Quantity
2 kg
Protected period
Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Other rules
The intentional destruction of mushrooms is prohibited.
- Official source
Geneva
Quantity
2 kg
- Official source
Glarus
Quantity
2 kg
Protected period
From the 1st to the 10th of each month
Other rules
Except for educational excursions organized by mycological societies or schools, organized collecting is prohibited.
Graubünden
Quantity
2 kg
Protected period
From the 1st to the 10th of each month
Other rules
Except for families, picking mushrooms in groups of more than 3 people is prohibited. The intentional destruction of mushrooms is prohibited.
- Official source
Jura
Quantity
2 kg
Other rules
Organized collecting is prohibited. Pick mushrooms carefully and by hand.
- Official source
Lucerne
Quantity
2 kg, of which at most 0,5 kg of morels or chanterelles
Protected period
From the 1st to the 7th of each month
Other rules
Except for educational excursions organized by mycological societies or schools, organized collecting is prohibited. Only pick fully developed mushrooms. The intentional destruction of mushrooms is prohibited.
Neuchâtel
Other rules
No regulation.
Nidwalden
Quantity
1 kg
Other rules
Organized collecting is prohibited. Harvesting for commercial purposes requires authorization (Fachstelle für Natur- und Landschaftsschutz).
- Official source
Obwalden
Quantity
2 kg, of which at most 0,5 kg of morels
Protected period
At night and from the 1st to the 7th of each month
Other rules
Organized or commercial collecting is prohibited.
Schaffhausen
Other rules
No regulation, except for the municipalities of Buchberg and Rüdlingen, which have the same regulation as the canton of Zurich.
Schwyz
Quantity
2 kg, of which at most 1 kg of morels
Other rules
Organized collecting is prohibited. The competent department may authorize exceptions for educational or study purposes.
- Official source
Solothurn
Other rules
The regulations have been abolished!
St. Gallen
Other rules
Different regulations depending on the municipality (check locally).
- Official source
- Official source
Thurgau
Quantity
1 kg
Other rules
It is prohibited to pick, dig up or destroy mushrooms listed in the "Red List of Threatened Species in Switzerland", 2007 edition of the Federal Office for the Environment. https://raumentwicklung.tg.ch/themen/natur/pilze.html/4229
Ticino
Quantity
3 kg
Protected period
Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Other rules
Pick mushrooms carefully and by hand. The intentional destruction of mushrooms is prohibited.
- Official source
Uri
Quantity
3 kg, of which at most 0,5 kg of morels or 2 kg of chanterelles
Other rules
Group or commercial collecting is prohibited. Only pick fully developed mushrooms, carefully and without tools. The intentional destruction of mushrooms is prohibited. Picking morels is not allowed before 1 April.
- Official source
Valais
Other rules
No regulation.
Vaud
Quantity
2 kg Since 1 January 2025
Protected period
Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Other rules
The harvesting of unprotected mushrooms for commercial gain, outside private gardens and orchards, is limited to 6 kg per person per day, all species combined, permitted from seven to twenty o'clock and subject to authorization from the service. The authorization specifies the species whose harvesting and sale are permitted, as well as the harvesting procedures. It may be granted only to a person who can prove attendance at a course given by the Swiss Association of Official Mushroom Inspection Bodies or recognized as equivalent.
- Official source
Zug
Other rules
No regulation.
Zurich
Quantity
1 kg
Protected period
From the 1st to the 10th of each month
Other rules
Only pick known species. The intentional destruction of mushrooms is prohibited. No quantity limit for honey fungus (strong forest parasites).
- Official source