Swiss to vote in national poll on banning factory farming

This weekend's ballot could see Switzerland also giving farm animals the constitutional right not to be intensively farmed'

Swiss voters will vote on Sunday on whether to ban factory farming as unconstitutional and end imports of intensively farmed meat.

The latest polling shows 52% of voters oppose a ban, and 47% support one. If the factory-farming ballot initiative is passed, Switzerland's constitution, which already protects the welfare and dignity of animals", would be modified to include an animal's right not to be intensively farmed", and new laws would lower animal stocking rates to meet organic standards.