Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office

Focus

Graureiher mit Vogelgrippevirus im Tierpark Bern aufgefunden

Crossing borders with animals – safely!

A holiday with your dog, moving countries with your cat: there are many reasons why you may need to cross a border with animals. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) offers help on crossing borders with pets correctly on its website and warns against illegal animal imports.

Ukrainian refugees with dogs or cats

Many people are fleeing Ukraine. Dogs and cats brought by their owners may enter Switzerland even if not all import conditions are met. Owners intending to enter Switzerland are asked to fill in the appropriate form.

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Tougher penalties for illegal trade in protected plants and animals

From 1 March 2022, tougher criminal sanctions will apply to the illegal trade in internationally protected animal and plant species. The Federal Council has passed an amendment of the relevant federal act and implementing provisions. Serious cases of illegal trade will now be treated as crimes.

Good to know

Legionella control in buildings

Both in Switzerland and throughout the world, the last few years have seen a sharp increase in Legionnaires’ disease, which is caused by Legionella bacteria. To counteract this trend, the FSVO set up the multidisciplinary research project LeCo. The project’s aim is to develop basic principles that can be used to efficiently identify and combat Legionella in buildings.

ASF – the level of hygiene of the pigs influences the course of the disease

Research, supported by the FSVO at the Institute for Virology and Immunology IVI, shows that the hygiene level of pigs plays a significant role in the course of the disease caused by the African swine fever virus. These results will help to drive the development of a vaccine.

More zoonoses - hygiene remains important (in French)

The monitoring of zoonoses shows that the number of cases in Switzerland in 2021 has again increased; campylobacterioses and salmonelloses being reported most frequently. Simple measures in the kitchen can prevent some illnesses to some extent.
(the report)

Travelling with pets