PostedJune 28, 2022, 10:37 PM
Alain Berset informed on Tuesday regarding the initiative once morest intensive farming on which the people will vote. The arguments of the Federal Council and those of the initiative committee are explained.
Stricter standards would affect the activity of several breeders in Switzerland, according to the Federal Council.
viandesuisse.ch
On September 25, 2022, the people are called upon to express themselves on the popular initiative “No to intensive farming in Switzerland”. The initiative aims to introduce into the Constitution a provision protecting the dignity of farm animals and to prohibit intensive breeding which, according to its authors, systematically undermines the welfare of animals.
If the text is accepted, the Confederation should set stricter minimum requirements for breeding, which would also apply to imported products. The Federal Council and Parliament reject the initiative. They believe that the dignity and well-being of animals are already protected by law and that more and more livestock are kept in a respectful manner.
For beginners, Switzerland can do better
The initiative committee believes that, although they can suffer like all living beings, animals are not considered as such, but as commodities. Although the federal law on the protection of animals is often described as exemplary, the reality is, according to him, quite different in the field of intensive breeding. The animals are piled up by the thousands in halls and few are those who can tread the grass of a meadow during their life. This is why the initiative calls for animal-friendly housing and care, regular outdoor outings, reduced group sizes and animal-friendly slaughter conditions.
For Bern, Switzerland is already doing enough
The Federal Council and Parliament consider the initiative to be unnecessary, since forms of animal husbandry that undermine animal welfare are already prohibited in Switzerland. In addition, the dignity and well-being of the animal are protected by law and more and more production animals are kept in a particularly respectful manner. By wanting to generally submit livestock to organic standards, the initiative is going too far. Many foodstuffs would become significantly more expensive. The Federal Council and Parliament therefore recommend rejecting the initiative.
(comm / jbm)
