The initiative calls for animals to be considered sentient beings, not commodities. It calls for the protection of the dignity of livestock and a ban on intensive farming to be enshrined in the Swiss constitution.
MARIE VUILLEUMIER: On September 25, Swiss citizens will vote on a ban on intensive livestock farming… Animal rights and animal welfare organisations have submitted a popular initiative to ban intensive livestock farming in Switzerland. But the government and parliament consider farm animals to be adequately protected under current legislation and are calling on voters to reject the initiative. The text of the initiative calls for the protection of the dignity of livestock and a ban on intensive farming to be enshrined in the Swiss constitution…
The text was submitted by animal rights organisations, including the Franz Weber Foundation, and by Sentience Politics. This association based in German-speaking Switzerland brings together activists from civil society. It is behind an initiative in canton Basel-City to recognise the fundamental rights of primates, which was rejected by 74% of voters last February. Sentience has also launched initiatives in several German-speaking cities to promote vegan food. The initiative against intensive livestock farming is supported by Greenpeace, Swiss Animal Protection Society, Pro Natura and the Green Party…
The initiative defines intensive livestock farming as “industrial livestock farming aimed at making the production of animal products as efficient as possible and systematically undermining animal welfare.” According to the Swiss government, intensive livestock farming defined in these terms is already prohibited under current legislation…
In Switzerland, as elsewhere, the majority of small family farms have been replaced by large, specialised farms. The number of farms raising livestock has halved in 30 years, while the average number of animals per farm has risen sharply… For example, farms may not keep more than 1,500 fattening pigs, 27,000 broiler chickens or 300 calves…
But the initiative’s organisers view these numbers as too high to ensure the welfare of the animals and maintain that this constitutes intensive farming. By imposing the Bio Suisse standard, they want livestock and poultry to be kept in smaller groups with more space and guaranteed outdoor access. They want animals to be considered sentient beings, not commodities…
The government and a majority of parliament are calling on the people to reject the initiative… The initiative is also opposed by the business community, the main Swiss Farmers’ Association and almost all other farmers’ groups… If the initiative succeeds, they fear many farms will be unable to expand and find themselves in great difficulty… Opponents of the initiative also warn that production costs would rise and be passed on to consumers. Imports of meat and eggs could increase, which would encourage people to shop over the border. SOURCE…
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