A European Union measure that will ban feeding pigs on food scraps threatens the existence of the seven biggest pig farms in Switzerland.
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Restaurants and canteens will also be affected, since the 300,000 tonnes of food waste they generate a year is mostly fed to pigs.
The measure was put to consultation until Monday.
Although the measure was criticised as non-ecological and non-economical, Switzerland has no choice, but to comply with bilateral agreements.
The aim of the ban – which is set to come into force mid-2011 – is to reduce the risk of swine flu, although the country hasn’t suffered from the epidemic for decades.
Whereas small piggeries and businesses will not suffer that much, the big pig farms, some of which can hold up to 3,000 pigs, will have to invest a lot of money in food and in changing infrastructure.
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