According to the Swiss Federal Council, the new labeling rules include beef derived from cattle castrated or dehorned without anaesthesia, dairy from cows dehorned without pain relief, and eggs and meat from chickens whose beaks are clipped without pain relief. Pigs that are castrated or whose tails are docked and teeth clipped without anaesthesia fall under the category, as do frog legs obtained without anaesthesia. Foie gras is also part of the decree. The regulation is applicable to all businesses that offer such foods, including restaurants, startups, food producers, and retailers.
ANAY MRIDUL: The Swiss government has approved new labelling rules that mandate businesses to declare if the meat and dairy products they’re selling are linked to animal suffering. In a big win for animal rights activists and food transparency, Switzerland now requires meat, dairy and egg labels to show if they were produced through painful procedures without anaesthesia or stunning.
The new ordinance is designed to give consumers clearer information about animal proteins and help them make informed purchasing decisions. In addition, it aims to encourage the livestock sector to transition to more ethical practices.
“When purchasing animal products such as meat, milk, or eggs, consumers will in future have access to additional information about the production method,” the Federal Council said. “This will enable them to determine whether these foods were produced using painful procedures without the animals being anaesthetised beforehand.” The labelling requirement came into effect on July 1 and is accompanied by a transition period of two years.
The regulation is applicable to all businesses that offer such foods, including restaurants, startups and food producers, and retailers. They’re required to check if they are subject to the declaration’s requirement, as part of a self-regulation approach.
According to the Federal Council, such products include beef derived from cattle castrated or dehorned without anaesthesia, dairy from cows dehorned without pain relief, and eggs and meat from chickens whose beaks are clipped without pain relief. Pigs that are castrated or whose tails are docked and teeth clipped without anaesthesia fall under the category, as do frog legs obtained without anaesthesia.
Notably, foie gras is part of the decree too. The highly prized delicacy is associated with the force-feeding of geese and ducks, which can damage the livers of the birds and lead to a painful disease called hepatic lipidosis…
The Federal Council has also placed a ban on the imports of fur produced through animal cruelty. While the Europe-first move was welcomed by animal rights activists, they said it didn’t go far enough.
“The term ‘cruel to animals’ is not interpreted consistently. The ban does not include particularly cruel traps, which are designed to kill instantly but often fail, leaving the trapped animals to die in agony for days,” said Thomas Pietsch, head of wild animals in textiles at welfare group Four Paws…
Switzerland’s move comes amid an increased focus on animal welfare policies across the world. German discount retailer Aldi Süd reorganised its fresh meat displays to reflect animal welfare standards in May, introducing a colour-coded system grouping products by the conditions in which they were raised. SOURCE…
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