Controversial animal products – People will decide on import bans on fur and foie gras – News




Controversial animal products – People will decide on import bans on fur and foie gras – News – SRF
























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  • The initiatives for import bans for foie gras and fur products produced in cruelty to animals have been submitted to the Federal Chancellery.
  • According to Alliance Animale Suisse, 106,448 signatures were collected for a ban on foie gras and 116,140 for a ban on fur.
  • According to figures from animal protection organizations, Switzerland imports 200 tons of foie gras and 350 tons of fur every year, half of them from China.

The production of foie gras has been banned in Switzerland for over 40 years. Nevertheless, the product is popular during the Christmas season. Almost all imported goods come from France and are practically 100 percent produced by fodder fattening.

Legend:

A French farmer feeds a goose with corn for the production of foie gras, French foie gras.

Keystone/AP Photo/Bob Edme

There are big regional differences in consumption: While only 15 percent of people living in German-speaking Switzerland consume foie gras, the figure is 71 percent in French-speaking Switzerland and 49 percent in Ticino. That has a survey by the animal protection organization “Four Paws” result. Around half of the imports are sold in the catering industry.

Initiative texts on the two import bans


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According to the two popular initiatives submitted, the animal protection article of the Federal Constitution (Art. 80 BV) is to be changed essentially as follows:

Paragraph 2: “The import of foie gras and foie gras products is prohibited.”

Paragraph 4: “The import of skins and fur products is prohibited. Sheep, goat and cattle skins as well as artificial fur are excluded.”

The submission of these initiatives at Christmas time also has a symbolic value, says Alliance Animale Suisse. A lot of suffering is caused to animals for products that one could do without.

The Swiss Parliament only spoke out against a ban on the import of foie gras in September. It was of the opinion that foie gras would be eaten in Switzerland even after an import ban.


Info 3, December 28, 2023, 5 p.m.;

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