“imagine this: We would allow the Import of child pornography, although the production of which in Switzerland is forbidden.” It’s a drastic comparison, wants to show, with the Katharina Büttiker your concerns. The animal rights activist is that animal abusers are allowed to be produced products such as foie Gras, fur, frog legs, live plucking of down or reptile leather in Switzerland was introduced.

The initiative’s text, which is this newspaper, has Büttiker already from the Federal Chancellery to check. “The Federal government sets the import bans on those of animal products, and their manufacture in Switzerland, under threat of criminal prosecution is prohibited”, means there. Behind the project of three animal welfare organizations Alliance Animal Suisse, a composite.

But before the animal rights activists “, these giant sets machinery” in motion, she wants to go the less expensive route via the Parliament. To succeed with a Motion from Barbara Keller-Inhelder, which raises the identical claim as the Initiative. The SVP national councillor wants to achieve in the second attempt, what Matthias Aebischer (SP) failed as a 2017. At that time, he also called for a ban on the import. The national Council spoke out in surprisingly; the FDP, a large part of the SVP and a minority of the CVP. However, the Council of States wanted nothing to do with a ban on the import and sank the initiative. The decision, a veritable Cultural battle was preceded by: Stuffed goose liver, Foie gras, in French-speaking Switzerland as a delicacy. The Italian resistance, the Lobbying of the watch industry, which feared for their bracelets from reptile leather, and unresolved issues to the Import of kosher meat led the Council of States his no.

width support

The time things will be different: the cellar-Inhelders Motion signed by 43 national Councillors from all groups – including several who voted last Time against the import ban. The new push comes from the right side, makes him potentially the majority of viable, particularly because it provides for exceptions: “In the determination of animal products for the goods is consideration and use an appropriate room”, said in the Motion.

to avoid tricky discussions about the freedom of religion, are not intended to define the exceptions, but in the future, prohibited products are listed. Thus, the Federal Council about Jewish Kosher and Muslim Halal meat could be shot from the prohibition on exclusive. In the Romandie popular foie Gras, however, should be according to the will of the cellar-Inhelders as soon as possible, prohibited. You believe in a recent, representative survey of the animal protection organisation Four paws, are three out of four Swiss nationals of the same view.

market would be Destroyed in order for a wax: Last year, about 250 tons landed foie Gras on Swiss plates, 45 percent more than in the year 2000. To appease the welschen critics, the proponents of the Motion to a business-friendly focus: A ban would discriminate against the domestic producers to foreign longer, stress.

The biggest hurdle the Council of States. How he will judge the Motion is unclear. Only eight politicians respond to request for concerns. The opponents see no need for action. The Federal Council could ban the import of animal products due to animal welfare, says Martin Schmid (FDP). Roland Eberle (SVP) is a Supplement to, the responsible citizen can decide for himself what he wants to consume. It is controversial whether an import ban with trade obligations in Switzerland compatible. The proponents argue that all of the agreements, see exemptions for measures to protect the life and health of animals. The Supreme judicial instance of the world trade organization (WTO) have acknowledged this. Against this Background, Switzerland already prohibits the importation of seal products.

Last year, 250 tons of
foie Gras landed
on Swiss plates.

For the Federal Council, however, the WTO does not allow case law to conclude that a ban on the import generally admissible. A part of the trading partner would consider this as discriminatory, and feared he. Also, the implementation of a ban he prized in his motion response than “virtually impossible” because of the controls abroad, “would be extremely expensive”. The Federal food safety and veterinary office (fsvo) explains this with the example of reptile leather: “There’s a lot of entertainment and hunting of shapes that cannot be automatically qualified as a spoiled productions.”

About half of these products come from the American Alligator. The attitude will be controlled in the US by the authorities, so the BLV. This does not mean that the Swiss Standards would be adhered to, replies Büttiker. The Federal Council does not want to remain idle. For less trade restrictive, he keeps the product Declaration, as it is for cage eggs already. At the behest of the Council of States, the Federal Council must now show how this duty is reinforced. Animal rights activist Büttiker has to understand that it is the consumer “maximum freedom of space”, but there is in the life of the “commandments and prohibitions”, which would comply with the consumer never voluntarily, such as speed limits when driving a car.

Alerted Jews

For Büttiker, therefore, is clear: “If the Parliament of the Motion does not agree, we will launch the Initiative.” The majority of the 43 signatories of the Request is prepared, the support Committee to join. In contrast to the Motion, the Initiative would provide for no exceptions – a controversial debate over Kosher and Halal meat would be programmed. “We want to keep the Text General. The Parliament could then make in the execution of the law it’s a balancing act between animal welfare and freedom of religion,” says Büttiker. Until the decision on the further course of action it will take, but still: The Parliament will treat the Motion before mid-2020.

The Swiss Israelite community Federation (SIG) is alarmed nevertheless: “The ban on the import of kosher meat would restrict the freedom of religion massively,” says President Herbert Winter. “It would be a religious Jew left but to emigrate.” Less critical of the SIG sees the advance from Keller-Inhelder, because it provides for a game room. Farhad Afshar of the coordination of Islamic organizations Switzerland has already previously made clear that Muslims could also be a ban on Halal meat to eat. According to Islamic understanding it is permitted to stun the animals before the Kill.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 20.03.2019, 23:07 PM