Bern, Switzerland, May 28, 2025 — The Federal Council is improving the labelling of animal-derived foods.
Source: Press Release (Google Translate used to translate from German to English).
A new law regarding labelling, has been introduced in Switzerland. The following food products must be labeled if they come from animals that have undergone certain painful procedures without anaesthesia:
- Beef from animals that have been castrated or dehorned without anaesthesia
- Pork if castration, tail docking or teeth clipping was performed without anaesthesia on the pig
- Eggs and meat from chickens whose beaks were clipped without pain relief
- Milk from cows dehorned without pain relief
- Frog legs obtained without anaesthesia
- Liver and meat of geese and ducks from force-fed production
Painful Procedures
When purchasing animal products such as meat, milk, or eggs, consumers will in future have access to additional information about the production method. This will enable them to determine whether these foods were produced using painful procedures without the animals being anaesthetised beforehand.
These procedures include castration or dehorning. Liver and meat from force-feeding geese and ducks must also be relabelled. Force-feeding has been banned in Switzerland for over 40 years, but is permitted abroad. With the new declaration requirements, the Federal Council is increasing transparency for consumers and enabling informed purchasing decisions.
The Legislation
The legislation being amended is the Foodstuffs and Utility Articles Ordinance (LGV) and the Food Information Ordinance (LIV).
When Do The Changes Apply?
The changes will apply from July 1, 2025, with a transition period of two years.
Who Does it Apply To?
The declaration requirement applies to all businesses that offer the affected foods, such as restaurants or small and retail businesses. These businesses must check, as part of their self-regulation, whether they are subject to declaration requirements. With the new labelling requirements, the Federal Council is implementing Motion 20.4267 “Declaration of production methods prohibited in Switzerland” of the Council of States’ Committee for Science, Education and Culture (WBK-S), which was passed by Parliament in June 2021.
Further Information
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary
Office Media Office
+41 58 463 78 98
media@blv.admin.ch
The Swiss Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start.html
