The idea
2016
In an exchange with representatives from different sectors and industries, it becomes clear that the Swiss livestock farming system in its current form is no longer sustainable. Sentience Politics works on first drafts for an initiative.
Drafting of initiative text
2017
Together with legal experts, Sentience Politics writes up the text for the federal popular initiative.
Creation of the initiative committee
2017
The initiative committee – consisting of 26 representatives of various organizations and parties – is formed.
Preliminary examination
May 2018
The Federal Chancellery announces that the submitted model signature list meets all legal requirements. There are no more obstacles to the start of the signature collection phase.
Launch
June 2018
The initiative to abolish factory farming in Switzerland is officially launched in Bern. The committee now has 18 months to collect 100,000 valid signatures.
Submission of signatures
September 2019
The initiative is submitted to the Federal Chancellery in Bern with over 100,000 certified signatures.
First success
October 2019
The Federal Chancellery confirms: The popular initiative has officially come about with 106,125 valid signatures.
Federal Council wants counter-proposal
January 2020
The Federal Council announces that it will prepare a direct counter-proposal to the initiative. This alternative amendment to the Constitution will be submitted to Parliament.
Consultation of the counter-proposal
August 2020
The Federal Council submits a draft of its direct counter-proposal for public consultation. Cantons, political parties and civil society are welcomed to feed back their comments in writing.
Final counter-proposal
May 2021
The Federal Council publishes the final version of its direct counter-proposal and announces its recommendation to Parliament to reject the initiative to abolish factory farming in Switzerland.
Commission rejects counter-proposal and initiative
October 2021
The majority of the National Council's pre-consultative commission (EATC-N) ignores the urgent need for action. It decides to recommend the rejection of both the initiative and the Federal Council's direct counter-proposal.
Discussion in the National Council
December 2021
In the 2021 parliamentary winter session, the initiative, the Federal Council's direct counter-proposal and further motions from the pre-consultative commission will be discussed by the National Council.
What are the next steps?
2022
The parliamentary process will continue in 2022: after the National Council, the Council of States will also have to decide on the counter-proposal and initiative, before they can be submitted to the electorate for a vote.