Executive Summary

Animal welfare legislation in Switzerland is wide-reaching and detailed. Both the Animal Welfare Act (2005) and the Animal Welfare Ordinance (2020) establish anti-cruelty protections and basic standards of care for all animals. The Animal Welfare Ordinance (2020) is particularly detailed and clearly sets out expectations of behaviour for animal owners and others responsible for the care of animals. The Animal Welfare Act (2005), while not explicitly using the term sentience, not only recognises the physical but also the mental state of an animal. The use of the word ‘dignity’ suggests an intention to ensure all animals protected under the Act enjoy a good quality of life.

However, there are some areas of concern. While many animals are provided with protections beyond basic anti-cruelty, draught animals and particularly stray cat populations are not afforded such extensive provisions. Similarly, while wild animals are protected by the general anti-cruelty prohibitions of the Animal Welfare Act (2005) and Animal Welfare Ordinance (2020), there are limited subsequent protections, for example from cruel hunting methods. While legislation regarding minimum standards of care prevent fur farming, there is no explicit ban on the industry, nor is there an explicit ban on the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients on animals.
 
Responsibility for animal welfare ultimately falls under the Department of Home Affairs with some delegated authority to the Canton-level for enforcement and some supplementary legislation. However, there is no national committee on animal welfare.

Since the 2014 edition of the Animal Protection Index, there have been limited changes to animal welfare legislation in Switzerland. However, the Animal Welfare Ordinance (2020) has been amended to provide improved protections for animals.

The Government of Switzerland is encouraged to create a national multi-stakeholder committee to effectively engage all actors involved in maintaining animals’ well-being to find solutions for welfare concerns. This committee would guide the country’s policies and strategies on animal welfare, in line with international standards. This committee should include representatives of animal welfare organisations. The Government of Switzerland is encouraged to fully align animal welfare legislation with OIE animal welfare standards. The Government of Switzerland is encouraged to ban the import of animal products that have not been produced in accordance with their national legislation. The Government of Switzerland is encouraged to issue an explicit ban on fur farming. Further legal and policy recommendations are associated with each Animal Protection Index (API) indicator and contained in the relevant sections of this report.