Parliament facilitates snail farming on farms
Published: Thursday, May 30th 2024, 08:50
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The Federal Councillors want to promote snail farming on farms. They are calling on the Federal Council to amend the legislation so that small-scale snail breeding facilities on farms can be approved.
After the Council of States, the National Council also adopted a motion by Ticino SP National Councillor Bruno Storni on Thursday, as amended by the small chamber. In his motion, the latter writes that infrastructure buildings for snail farming are currently not eligible for approval in the agricultural zone.
This is because snails are not classified as farm animals, as Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin confirmed in September 2023 when discussing Storni's proposal in the National Council.
According to Storni, snail farming is a clean and ecological branch of agriculture with great potential. In Italy, production has tripled in five years and turnover has increased by 350 million euros.
The Federal Council has now been instructed to draw up the necessary amendments at the legislative or ordinance level. According to parliamentary documents, the aim is to allow smaller installations on farms to be approved. The amendment to the text of the motion to this effect is based on a proposal by the Federal Council.
According to the rapporteur of the preliminary consultation committee in the Council of States in March of this year, this amendment to the law should make it possible to erect fences and enclosures for snail farming on farms. However, erecting a building for this purpose would remain prohibited.
Snail does not become a farm animal
Storni also wanted the snail to be classified as a farm animal. However, this went too far for the Council of States. Prior to Thursday's debate, the National Council's preliminary committee praised the new wording of Storni's motion as "practice-oriented". The proposal is based on the existing regulations in aquaculture.
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