Rationale
In Switzerland, the principle of respecting animal dignity is explicitly anchored at both constitutional and statutory level. This means that animals are accorded intrinsic value and may not be used solely as means for human purposes. Animal dignity may be impaired only where a higher-ranking interest exists (e.g. meat production). An animal’s life forms the basis for the protection of its dignity. Therefore, the killing of an animal – analogous to the other restrictions on animal dignity – should be permissible only if overriding interests exist. What appears logical and clear in itself is frequently disregarded in administrative practice because life has not yet been explicitly mentioned as a protected interest in the purpose article. This results in healthy animals regularly being killed even without a higher-ranking reason. The events connected with the animal welfare scandal in Ramiswil clearly demonstrate this gap in protection. They triggered such great public outrage that politicians felt compelled to initiate an external investigation. This makes clear that explicit protection of animals’ lives is socially relevant and broadly supported. The explicit anchoring of protection of life as part of the protective purpose of the Animal Welfare Act closes this objectionable and contradictory gap. It does not constitute a tightening of the law in force, but merely ensures that the existing provisions are applied correctly in practice. Consequently, a weighing of interests must be undertaken before every killing. The amendment strengthens the coherence of statutory provisions without restricting the need to use animals. The legal systems of numerous states demonstrate the compatibility of respect for life with killing for interests legitimised by society.
Source box
Source: The Federal Assembly — The Swiss Parliament, Business 26.4117: Explicitly anchoring the protection of life in the Animal Welfare Act, submitted text and rationale, full version, 15 September 2026.