Federal Council bans boiling live lobsters
Anyone who wants to eat fresh lobster, spiny lobster, or crayfish will have to dig deeper into their pockets in the future.
Despite opposition from restaurateurs, the Federal Council has decided that live crustaceans must be stunned before being killed.
Today, these animals are typically thrown alive into boiling water. This hotly contested but widespread practice of handling crustaceans is now coming to an end. In future, the animals must be stunned, for example using electric shocks. Restaurants that serve lobster will therefore need to upgrade their kitchens. This has already caused considerable uproar in catering circles. Despite criticism during the consultation process, the Federal Council is standing firm in its decision to extend the mandatory stunning requirement — previously applicable only to vertebrates — to crustaceans. It states that these animals must also be assumed to be capable of suffering and sensation.
No import ban
Crustaceans must also be kept under more humane conditions prior to slaughter. While they may be refrigerated, they may no longer be transported directly on ice or in ice water. In addition, aquatic species must now always be kept in their natural environment. An import ban, however, does not appear to command a majority. The National Council rejected a corresponding motion put forward by the Greens last June.
On Wednesday, the Federal Council also adopted a whole series of further measures to improve the protection of animals. One of these aims to curb the trade in illegally imported dogs: anyone wishing to sell a dog must include a physical address and the animal's origin in the advertisement. In addition, the traceability of imported dogs is to be improved.
New regulations now prohibit all anti-bark devices in dogs that are triggered automatically by the dog's vocalizations, regardless of the reason for barking. Previously, devices that emit only water or compressed air were exempt from this ban.
In the commercial sale of pet enclosures, suppliers must provide written information stating which animal species can be legally kept in each cage. This is intended to prevent the sale of enclosures that are too small. Retailers must also provide information on species-appropriate husbandry for the relevant animal.
Protection for shy animals
New regulations also apply to exhibitions and sporting events. Anyone organizing such events must in future ensure that the animals are cared for by competent persons. In principle, responsibility for the welfare of the animals continues to rest with the owners. However, the organizer must intervene if they fail to fulfill their duties. Animals that are overwhelmed by the situation must be removed from the event premises.
Particular consideration is to be given to shy, flight-oriented species such as guinea pigs, rabbits, and chicks. These may no longer be kept in petting zoos at exhibitions, fairs, or markets. Permanent petting zoos, where the animals are in familiar surroundings and can retreat at any time, remain permitted.
Regulations for animal experiments are also being tightened: every institute or laboratory conducting animal experiments must designate a specially trained animal welfare officer. The changes come into force on 1 March. More on Swiss animal law and hunting legislation at wildbeimwild.com.
