One of the (very few) good things that Boris Johnson did while in power, was to bring in a Kept Animals Bill, a ground-breaking piece of legislation, which would have made pet welfare and other laws more stringent, and banned trophy hunting imports. But before it came to pass, Rishi Sunak took over, and scrapped it.
Labour is apparently bringing back parts of the Bill but bit by bit, and more slowly. Read more on improving England’s animal welfare laws.
We can instead learn from Switzerland. It’s not perfect, but his beautiful country has very strict animal welfare laws. There are such good spaying/neuter programs that many people have to go over the border to adopt pets, as there are not as many homeless pets. And it’s the law that if you have pets, you must take a course to look after them, including giving regular walks, twice daily. Read our posts on pet welfare.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress, can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi
What Sets the Bar So High?
Swiss politics works very differently, with a panel (rather than one Prime Minister) and regular referendums, that go the public. Switzerland’s animal welfare laws rank among the toughest in the world, shaping how pets live, how farms operate, and how food reaches the table.
These rules matter for more than compassion alone. Strong welfare standards reduce suffering, support public health, and build trust in food systems. They also reflect a national belief that animals deserve protection as sentient beings, not just as property or products.
At the heart of the system sits the Federal Act on Animal Protection, updated in 2008, with detailed ordinances that cover daily care, housing, transport, breeding, and slaughter. The law is clear, practical, and backed by real consequences for those who break it.
Elements of Swiss Animal Welfare Laws
Swiss law rests on a simple principle: animals must not be made to suffer needlessly. This principle drives a wide set of rules and standards that apply across species and sectors.
- Cosmetics and testing: Cosmetic testing on animals is not permitted. Switzerland aligns with European practice, which rejects cruel testing for beauty products. It’s also illegal to sell animal-tested cosmetics in England, but some companies still abroad (and Botox is tested on mice).
- Strict controls on intensive farming: The law sets minimum space, light, ventilation, and flooring standards. Farm animals must be able to stand up, lie down, turn around, and express normal behaviour. Pigs need dry, comfortable lying areas and materials for rooting. Cattle require enough room to rest and socialise.
- Pain relief and procedures: Painful procedures, such as castration or dehorning, are tightly regulated. Pain relief is mandatory, and only trained persons may carry out such procedures. Routine mutilations that serve convenience, not welfare, are banned. In England, this only happens on certified organic farm.
- Housing and enrichment: Animals need appropriate bedding, social contact, and environmental enrichment. Hens must have perches and nesting areas. Rabbits require platforms and places to hide. The goal is not just survival, but welfare.
- Transport and slaughter: Transport times are limited, stress must be reduced, and handlers must be trained. Stunning before slaughter is compulsory, including for religious slaughter. Domestic slaughter without stunning is illegal. Not so in England, despite it being okay for Muslims and Jews to be vegan or vegetarian within their religions.
- Applies to all animals: The law protects companion animals, farm animals, wild animals in captivity, and animals used in research. Guardians and keepers carry a clear duty of care.
- Penalties with bite: Violations can lead to fines of up to 20,000 Swiss francs, higher in serious or repeated cases. Authorities can impose bans on keeping animals and pursue criminal charges where cruelty is proven.
These elements produce a coherent framework: prevention of suffering, promotion of natural behaviours, and accountability backed by enforcement.
Protections for Pets and Companion Animals
Swiss rules for pets focus on daily wellbeing, not just avoiding cruelty.
- Identification and registration: Dogs must be microchipped and registered in the national database. This supports traceability, responsible ownership, and faster reunions if a dog goes missing.
- Bans on cosmetic mutilation: Tail docking and ear cropping are banned for dogs and many other species. These procedures cause pain and serve no welfare purpose.
- Breeding limits: Breeding is restricted where it risks inherited suffering. Extreme features that impair breathing, walking, or vision are not allowed. The authorities can ban or restrict breeding lines when health is at stake.
- Exercise and social contact: Dogs need daily outdoor exercise and social interaction. Guardians must give time, stimulation, and a safe environment. Keeping a dog alone in poor conditions breaches the law.
- Veterinary care: Guardians must provide timely vet care. Neglect, such as untreated injuries or chronic hunger, can lead to prosecution.
- Housing basics: Pet housing must protect from heat, cold, and hazards. Rabbits need space and hiding places. Cats need access to scratching and climbing. Small pets cannot be kept in cramped, barren cages.
Regulations for Farm Animals and Agriculture
Switzerland sets detailed standards for livestock that shape how farms design housing and manage daily routines.
- Space and comfort: Minimum space is defined by species and weight class. Cattle need clean lying areas and room to turn and rest. Pigs must have dry bedding and room to move. Flooring must avoid injury and allow natural postures.
- Hens and housing: Conventional battery cages are banned. Hens need perches, litter for dust bathing, and nesting boxes. Many farms use aviary or free-range systems that support more natural behaviour.
- Outdoor access and daylight: Stock benefit from natural light and fresh air. National programmes encourage regular outdoor access and animal-friendly housing, and many farms join these schemes to raise standards above the legal floor.
- Handling and procedures: Routine tail docking of pigs and similar practices are restricted. When a procedure is necessary, trained personnel must use pain relief.
- Transport and slaughter: Farms and abattoirs must reduce fear and pain. Stunning is compulsory. Staff must be trained and certified. Equipment is checked and maintained to prevent suffering.
These rules support higher welfare while guiding farmers with clear, practical benchmarks. Consumers gain confidence that food is produced with respect for animals.
How These Laws Benefit Animals and Society
Stronger laws deliver real outcomes for animals and people.
- Better animal health: Animals kept with space, clean bedding, and enrichment show lower stress and fewer injuries. Proper handling and pain relief reduce trauma and chronic pain.
- Lower cruelty rates: Clear duties, oversight, and penalties deter neglect and abuse. Enforcement powers allow authorities to act fast when animals are at risk.
- Food quality and safety: Healthier animals often mean safer, more consistent products. Reduced stress and injury at slaughter improve meat quality and reduce waste.
- Environmental gains: Animal-friendly housing and outdoor access programmes often link with better manure management and pasture use, which can support soil health and biodiversity.
- Public trust and values: People support systems that match their ethics. Switzerland’s stance signals that compassion ranks alongside quality. This reputation supports tourism and strengthens national identity.
- Comparison with neighbours: The UK and EU may set welfare rules, but Switzerland often goes further on space, handling, and slaughter standards, and applies these rules across species with fewer loopholes.
Global Influence and Lessons for Other Nations
Switzerland’s model shows that detailed standards, training, and enforcement can work together. Animal protection groups often cite Swiss law when pressing for reforms abroad, from bans on cosmetic mutilations to mandatory stunning at slaughter.
Practical lessons for policymakers:
- Define minimum space and enrichment by species, not vague guidelines.
- Require pain relief for any procedure that can cause suffering.
- Make transport and slaughter rules clear, with training and certification.
- Create penalties that matter, including bans on keeping animals.
- Support farmers with incentives to exceed the legal floor.
Ways readers can help push change at home:
- Back campaigns for mandatory stunning and better housing standards.
- Choose higher welfare labels and ask retailers for transparency.
- Support shelters and charities that drive education and enforcement.
- Write to local representatives with concrete policy asks, such as microchipping, bans on cosmetic mutilation, and stronger breeding rules.
