Published on November 20, 2024 at 6:09 p.m. / Modified on November 21, 2024 at 02:18.
3 mins. reading
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An initiative calls for a ban on the importation of foie gras into Switzerland.
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The Federal Council is opposed to this and prefers labeling on animal breeding conditions.
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If the initiative is accepted by the people next year, retaliatory measures on Swiss products are not excluded.
In 2023, Switzerland imported nearly 200 tonnes of foie gras, according to the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security, the majority of which from France. This specialty, appreciated in French-speaking Switzerland during the end-of-year holiday period, has been in the sights of several animal protection organizations for a long time. Its production has been banned in Switzerland since 1978 and the Swiss Animal Alliance launched an initiative to ban its import. Project which was completed on December 28. And this product is not the only one targeted by this ban. Those made from foie gras, such as duck breast and confit, are also affected, because of the mistreatment suffered by poultry during force-feeding.
This desire – especially from German-speaking Switzerland – to ban these products from stalls and private tables is causing strong tension in French-speaking Switzerland. A poll commissioned by the online media Watson this spring showed that 89% of German-speaking Swiss said they were in favor of this ban, while 65% of French-speaking Swiss rejected it. A “liver graben” was also superimposed on the Röstigraben in parliament in 2022 and 2023, when elected officials spoke out on the subject. Food customs on both sides of the rösti barrier must be respected, the French-speaking people reminded us. But since, mathematically, German speakers are more numerous, they risk imposing their vision of gastronomy on the whole country.
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