The Path to Banning Foie Gras: Initiatives and Political Debates in Switzerland

GastroSuisse and the Swiss Meat Trade Association oppose the ban, as does the Federal Council — though it has acknowledged the need for action and initiated a mandatory declaration requirement for such products.

The proposed labelling requirement, however, remains vague and risks becoming a mere token gesture.

The Foundation for the Animal in Law (TIR), Swiss Animal Protection STS, and FOUR PAWS – Foundation for Animal Welfare consider a mandatory declaration requirement an ineffective and therefore inadequate measure to curb the consumption of foie gras. Those who consume foie gras in Switzerland are generally well aware that it has been produced through the force-feeding of animals. Corresponding information on the product or on a menu is unlikely to change consumption behaviour. Swiss demand generates abroad a market for products whose production would be a criminal offence in Switzerland. The import ban called for by the initiative therefore represents the only viable path to addressing the problem in a sustainable manner.

At the end of February, the parliamentary Committee on Science, Education and Culture of the National Council (WBK-N) addressed the foie gras import ban initiative. With a narrow majority of 13 to 12 votes, the committee passed a parliamentary initiative providing for the drafting of an indirect counter-proposal. This counter-proposal is to be based on the planned labelling requirement, but is additionally to legally establish import-restricting measures if the import of foie gras for commercial purposes has not declined significantly five years after the legislation comes into force.
STS, TIR and FOUR PAWS regret that the National Council committee is critical of a strict and swift import ban. Nevertheless, it appears to have recognised the need for action. The effectiveness review of foie gras labelling provided for in the counter-proposal, combined with additional import-restricting measures in the event that the labelling requirement does not achieve the desired effect, therefore represents an important step in the right direction.

The necessity of a complete ban on foie gras imports is also reflected in a representative survey conducted by Watson in February 2024 in collaboration with the social research institute DemoSCOPE. According to the survey, around 75 percent of all eligible voters in Switzerland would support the initiative for a foie gras ban. Politicians are therefore increasingly obliged to finally put an end to this unspeakable animal suffering for the sake of a dubious indulgence.

FOUR PAWS, TIR and STS will closely follow the parliamentary discussions surrounding the initiative and the indirect counter-proposal and are in dialogue with the initiative committee of the foie gras initiative, which will ultimately decide on whether to maintain the initiative.