A “right-leaning” European nation is passing a law that mandates that all animal-based food will need to have more information on their labels when it comes to how the animals were treated.
The Federal Council of the country has passed the law to ensure that there is more transparency with food products and that consumers can make more informed decisions. Information on labels will now have to indicate if the animal had to endure suffering during production and help customers who struggle with ethics.
Pain
It’s no secret that many animals are subjected to painful processes before they become the animal product we buy. However, for the first time, consumers will know exactly what happened to the animal in the process.
New labels will have to disclose if any pain was induced without anesthesia, such as dehorning, castration, tail docking, or teeth clipping. The information will be available for both supermarket products and in restaurants.
Switzerland Is Ahead
Switzerland has been ahead when it comes to animal welfare for decades. Over the last few years, many cruel practices have already been banned. However, the one place that they cannot control is imported goods from countries without the same standards.
Switzerland has decided to try and mitigate this by ensuring that its citizens know exactly what’s happening to the animals in the process.
Foie Gras
Foie Gras is a notorious food dish and its production is banned in Switzerland. Despite it being banned, imported Foie Gras is completely legal, however, labels will now reveal what’s really going on in the process.
Foie Gras is made by force-feeding geese and ducks, which is considered to be a cruel practice for many. While Switzerland would like to ban many cruel imports altogether, this is the start of trying to get some control back.
Fur Imports
Switzerland isn’t just going after animal food products. The country is also going after fur imports from animals that are treated cruelly while they are still alive.
By July this year, both food and fur importers will have to meet Switzerland’s new standards, or their products won’t end up in the hands of consumers. Switzerland’s message is clear – they don’t condone cruelty to animals.
Enforcement
Switzerland’s enforcement will be strict and will be composed of regular government checks and self-monitoring. It’s up to restaurants, retailers, and businesses to check their products and ensure that they meet the new law and if anything needs to be declared.
Officials will do random spot checks, and anything that’s found to not be compliant will be swiftly taken off of shelves.
Consumer Impact
This law, while only enforcing a proper label, has a large impact on consumers. For the first time, Swiss shoppers can look at the label on an everyday product and see if any animals were mistreated.
This gives consumers a strong weapon – knowledge. This way, people can vote with their wallets and choose to boycott extreme examples of animals that endure pain in the process of putting a product on a shelf.
How The Industry Has Reacted
Local industry giants like Migros and Emmi already have a history of lagging behind legal welfare requirements for products and this new process will serve to put more pressure on them.
Other businesses complain about additional costs and logistics, especially for imported goods where labels are often out of their control. However, Switzerland stands by its decision – animal products need to inform consumers properly, or they won’t be able to sell to the market.
The Affect On Europe
Switzerland is setting a new precedent for animal products and aims to have a more transparent experience for shoppers. This could have long-term affects on the rest of Europe, as many other countries are currently rethinking their agri-food priorities.
Switzerland’s new model is about ethics and animal welfare rather than prioritizing profits and efficiency. Other countries may follow suit in the future, but it remains to be seen.
The Future Of Food And Ethics
In the modern age, consumers should know everything about the products they buy, including the process that animals have to endure. This helps dispel ethical dilemmas as people can see exactly what’s going on.
In the future, this idea could spread like wildfire, and other nations might mandate animal welfare labels that are more transparent than just “animal-friendly.” Gone are the days when consumers were ignorant when they purchased animal-based goods.
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