Document type: News item from theFederal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (OSAV) of the Swiss Confederation
Author: FSVO
Preview: The Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) today opened the consultation process on modifications to a number of items of animal welfare legislation. The new regulations are aimed in particular at improving the conditions under which certain animal species are kept, with a view to improving their welfare and combat irresponsible dog imports. Measures are also planned in the field of animal experimentation. The consultation period runs until March 15, 2024. The Federal Council has indicated the possibility of further improvements to the protection of animals in several of its responses to questions in parliament. In addition, research regularly leads to new scientific findings in the field of animal husbandry. Against this backdrop, the Federal Council intends to strengthen animal protection legislation. On November 27, 2023, the DHA opened the consultation procedure for the proposed amendments to the relevant ordinances.
Tougher rules on imports of puppies
The consultation draft proposes a ban on the import of puppies under 15 weeks of age, as is already the case in many EU Member States. Switzerland does not currently impose a minimum age for importing dogs, although puppies under eight weeks of age must be accompanied by their mothers. The aim of this stricter requirement is to reduce the number of impulsive and ill-considered purchases of puppies on the Internet, and to curb the irresponsible trade in dogs from abroad. The group transport of animals, which is commonplace in practice, also poses the risk that dogs that are often very young will pass on diseases to each other. Provisions are made for exceptions to this ban on the import of puppies under 15 weeks of age for support dogs, and for private individuals who personally collect a puppy from a foreign kennels.
The keeping and breeding of experimental animals: a number of improvements
A new ordinance article explicitly limits the breeding of experimental animals to what is strictly required. In addition, the subsequent use of experimental animals must in future be recorded in a database. This applies in particular to animals bred for experimental purposes that are not ultimately used and are therefore killed. This greater transparency should help to reduce the number of animals bred for experimental purposes. In addition, the cages and enclosures of all experimental animals will henceforth have to provide the chance to withdraw into a hiding place. The proposed measures are in line with Switzerland's 3Rs principle, comprising a reduction in the number of animal experiments(reduce),replacement of animal experiments(replace) and improvement of the methods employed (refine).
New rules for the respectful treatment of animals
Certain practices used on animals are to be banned as they no longer fit current concepts of animal welfare. These include, in particular, beak trimming (shortening) for hens, certain techniques used on horses, and the docking of sheep's tails. The consultation on the changes to the relevant legislation will last until March 15, 2024.
