Campaigners submitted the collected signatures to the Federal Chancellery last September, in a bid to force a nationwide vote on their initiative.
Keystone/Peter Klaunzer
The government wants enshrine animal dignity in the Swiss constitution, but it has come out against a more detailed proposal by rights groups.
“The government in principle welcomes the aims of the initiative (…) and wants to set the criteria for animal-friendly accommodation, regular access to outside areas and appropriate conditions for the slaughter,” a statement said.
However, the government said the initiative by the animal rights group, which wants to ban factory farming and sets strict rules including on the import of animal products, was too radical.
Last September, campaigners submitted more than 100,000 signatures to the authorities forcing a nationwide ballot on the issue. A date for the vote is still to be set, following discussions in parliament.
A separate initiative aimed at banning animal experiments also collected the necessary number of signatures last year to force a nationwide ballot at a later stage.
More
More
How well are Swiss animals protected?
This content was published on
Strict welfare legislation makes Switzerland one of the better places to have fur, fins or feathers. Here’s why.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
Norwegian zombie film wins main prize at Swiss festival NIFFF
This content was published on
More than 55,000 people celebrated the fantastic film at the International Fantastic Film Festival in Neuchâtel (NIFFF) - fewer than last year.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.