National Council debates factory farming
The National Council has begun debating the factory farming initiative. The initiative calls for stricter rules on the keeping of farm animals.
On Tuesday, the National Council began debating the factory farming initiative .
The initiative seeks to enshrine animal welfare as well as rules for the import of animal products in the constitution. It has little chance of passing in the National Council. The debate will continue on Wednesday.
What the initiative demands
The animal-friendly housing, regular outdoor access, and humane slaughter of farm animals are to be enshrined in the constitution.
The majority of the advisory Economic Affairs Committee (WAK-N) recommends that the Council vote against the initiative. The committee also recommends rejecting the Federal Council's direct counter-proposal.
The popular initiative «No factory farming in Switzerland (Factory Farming Initiative)» aims to ban factory farming and enshrine the dignity of animals in agricultural livestock keeping in the constitution.
In this regard, requirements are to be established that set as their goal standards at least equivalent to those of the Bio Suisse guidelines of 2018. The initiative also calls for regulations on the import of animals and animal products for food purposes that take the new constitutional article into account.
Federal Council wants a counter-proposal
The Federal Council considers the popular initiative to go too far, but wishes to incorporate key aspects of it into a counter-proposal. Accordingly, animal-friendly housing, regular outdoor access, and humane slaughter of farm animals are to be enshrined in the constitution.
The Federal Council's direct counter-proposal had been received positively by a majority during the consultation process. Among others, 17 cantons welcomed the proposal. However, the preparatory committee nonetheless rejected it by a majority. In the WAK-N, the centre-right parliamentary groups prevailed, arguing that the existing provisions are strict enough. They also argued that the proposal contradicts the Federal Council's goal of reducing ammonia emissions and focuses primarily on cattle farmers.
Wording of the initiative
New Art. 80a FC (Agricultural Animal Husbandry)
1 The Confederation protects the dignity of animals in agricultural animal husbandry. Animal dignity includes the right not to live in factory farming conditions.
2 Factory farming refers to a technologised form of animal husbandry in large-scale operations aimed at producing as many animal products as possible, in which animal welfare is systematically violated.
3 The Confederation shall define the criteria for animal-friendly housing and care, access to the outdoors, slaughter, and the maximum group size per barn.
4 The Confederation shall issue regulations on the import of animals and animal products for food purposes that take this article into account.
