Swiss food labels must indicate animal suffering

From July 1, food labels in Switzerland must indicate if animal products have been produced using painful procedures. The Swiss government has approved several regulations requiring the labeling of meat, eggs, and goose liver. Read our news!

With this regulation, consumers will receive clearer information about how animals were treated during production when purchasing meat, milk, or eggs, for example. Labels must indicate if any painful procedures were performed without anesthesia or stunning.

Such practices include the castration or dehorning of cattle without anesthesia, and the castration, tail docking, or teeth clipping of pigs without anesthesia. The same applies to the cutting off of frogs’ legs without anesthesia.

Force-feeding must also be indicated

The livers and meat of geese and ducks that have been force-fed must also be labeled accordingly. Although force-feeding has been banned in Switzerland for more than 40 years, it remains legal in other countries. The measure is part of the government’s response to a civil initiative to ban the import of goose liver. Although the Swiss government does not support this initiative, the labeling requirement will enable consumers to make more informed choices between products containing goose liver and those containing duck liver.

The labeling requirement applies not only to retail stores, but also to restaurants and small businesses, for example. According to the Swiss government, these regulations “increase transparency for consumers, enabling them to make informed purchasing decisions.” Under the self-monitoring rules, businesses must determine for themselves whether their products are subject to the mandatory declaration. The legislation provides for a two-year transition period for the introduction of the changes.

Can we expect similar animal welfare labeling in Hungary?

According to information obtained by NÉGYOSZ, preparations are currently underway for a mandatory animal welfare labeling system covering the entire European Union. If implemented, this could be a significant step forward in terms of transparency and would provide real help to consumers in making more informed and ethical decisions.