Switzerland is a good performer (“B”) under the VACI, on a par with Sweden. Although animal consumption is high, the country has strict animal welfare laws and low levels of animal production.
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Although the majority of farms in Switzerland raise livestock, the country is a net meat importer. It slaughters around 8.7 land-based animals per person per year, the lowest amongst the European countries surveyed and lower than the global average of 10.1. The country’s dependence on farmed animals is the second lowest of the European countries surveyed (second only to Sweden), with around 1.8 farmed animals per person versus a global average of 4.1.
The Swiss diet contains a relatively high proportion of animal products. Around 59.4% of the average person’s diet is made up of land-based animal protein, compared to a global average of 35.2%. Each person consumes around 54.2g of land-based animal protein per day, versus a global average of 27.2g. About 14% of the population is vegetarian.
Switzerland is rated as a good performer (“B”) under the Animal Protection Index (API), and its farmed animal protection legislation achieved an adequate performance rating (“C”) under the same index. The country has strong animal protection laws rigorously enforced at the Federal level. However, Switzerland imports a significant quantity of animal products that do not meet the standards enshrined in the nation's legislation for domestic production of animal products. Switzerland also participates in live animal exportation for journeys over eight hours, and factory farming is widespread for pigs, chickens and other farmed birds. The government has however prohibited the use of sow stalls, farrowing crates, and battery cages. Learn more about the quality of Switzerland’s legislative protections on the API here.