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Factory farms like this one in Canada could be banned in Switzerland.

Factory farms like this one in Canada could be banned in Switzerland. (Photo: Mercy For Animals Canada/Flickr)

Swiss Voters to Decide on Whether to Allow Factory Farming to Continue in 'Milestone' Moment

On September 16, the campaign submitted more than enough signatures for the measure to appear on the upcoming ballot.

Eoin Higgins

Voters in Switzerland will soon have their say on whether or not the country continues to allow factory farming thanks to an initiative by animal rights campaigners that delivered that country's Parliament on Monday over 100,000 signatures to force a referendum on the matter.

"A milestone for the Swiss environmental and animal protection movement," tweeted animal rights campaigner Philipp Ryf. 

The campaign was the result of work by a broad coalition of groups, including Swiss animal rights group Sentience Politics, Greenpeace, the Franz Weber Foundation, and many others. The push for the referendum began in June of 2018, citing climate change and animal cruelty as motivating factors.

"Fifty percent of all piglets raised in Switzerland are slaughtered without ever seeing the sky," said Sentience Politics' Meret Schneider.

On September 16, the campaign submitted more than enough signatures for the measure to appear on the upcoming ballot.

Campaigners celebrated on social media and shared pictures of the petition delivery. 

The Swiss Parliament will discuss the proposal before setting a date for the vote, according to SwissInfo. 

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