Council of States wants to support slaughterhouses in the event of animal diseases
Published: Tuesday, Jun 4th 2024, 13:20
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If the authorities take measures against animal diseases, the federal government should compensate slaughterhouses, meat processors and hunters for additional costs. The Council of States has already adopted the second motion along these lines.
On Tuesday, it voted in favour of Fabio Regazzi's motion (centre/TI) by 33 votes to 4, with four abstentions. Due to African swine fever - cases were recently detected in northern Italy - the question arises as to when the disease will arrive in Switzerland, Regazzi explained.
According to Regazzi, extensive measures would have to be taken against the disease, which is not dangerous for humans. The resulting huge additional expense for slaughterhouses, but also for hunters, is costly, both emotionally and financially. The disease can only be tackled with rigorous efforts.
Jakob Stark (SVP/TG) pointed out that if many animals had to be slaughtered in an emergency, this would lead to animal congestion. This situation should be prevented, as animal congestion would have a detrimental effect on animal welfare.
The Federal Council rejects the motion. Slaughtering, processing and disposal companies would have to bear the risks of an epidemic themselves or insure themselves against it. Animal losses due to slaughter are already compensated, said Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. Animals infected with swine fever would be killed on the farm, not in the slaughterhouse.
At the end of 2022, the National Council rejected an initial motion by Councillor of States Jakob Stark with similar content, but supported a motion by Leo Müller (center/LU) along the same lines in spring 2024. It now also has to decide on Regazzi's motion.
©Keystone/SDA
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