Wed, Apr 17th 2024
In response to potential African swine fever threats, the Swiss National Council votes to support meat industry businesses facing closure or losses.
Slaughterhouses and other businesses in the meat industry should receive compensation if they have to close temporarily or suffer financial losses due to African swine fever. The National Council has adopted a motion with this demand.
It decided in favour of the motion by Leo Müller (center/LU) by 96 votes to 89, with two abstentions. The Council of States, which already adopted a motion along the same lines in 2022, will now decide.
Müller explained that it was only a matter of time before African swine fever appeared in Switzerland. Any restrictions imposed by the authorities could quickly lead to additional work in meat processing and the costs involved could jeopardise the existence of businesses.
It is about large farms with a cluster risk, but also smaller farms, said Müller. Closures could lead to a “backlog” of animals ready for slaughter. This could endanger animal welfare.
The federal government and cantons could not cover all entrepreneurial risks, the Federal Council wrote in its negative statement. Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider said that the Federal Council did not want unequal treatment within the sector.
African swine fever has not yet arrived in Switzerland, but has already occurred in northern Italy. The disease, which is caused by a virus, affects wild and domestic animals. They develop a high fever and die within seven to ten days. The virus is not dangerous for humans.
©Keystone/SDA
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