Agriculture Act (AgricA)
Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Chapter 1 Basic Principle
Amended by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Art. 113 Basic principle
1 The Confederation promotes the acquisition, exploitation and exchange of knowledge in the agricultural and food sector, thereby supporting the sector in its efforts to produce in a rational and sustainable manner. 2 An appropriate proportion of funding is used for types of production that are particularly near-natural and environmentally and animal friendly.
Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Chapter 1a Research
Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Art. 114 Agricultural research institute
1 The Confederation shall operate an agricultural research institute. 2 The agricultural research institute shall comprise a central research campus with regional research centres and decentralised research stations. The research stations must be located in various parts of the country. 3 The agricultural research institute shall be affiliated to the FOAG.
Art. 114 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 115 The tasks of the agricultural research institute
1 The agricultural research institute has the following tasks in particular: a. processing scientific findings and the technical principles for agricultural practice, education and advisory services; b. drawing up scientific principles for agricultural decision-making; c. developing, supporting and evaluating agricultural measures; d. drawing up basic principles for new strategies in agriculture; e. drawing up basic principles for environmentally and animal-friendly types of production; f. carrying out implementation duties. 2 …
Art. 115 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955). Para. 1 let. f — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955). Para. 2 — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007 (AS 2007 6095; BBl 2006 6337). Repealed in Annex No 5 of the FA of 18 June 2010, with effect from 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 5003; BBl 2009 7207).
Art. 116 Financial assistance and research mandates
1 The Confederation may provide organisations with financial assistance to support their research efforts. 2 It may provide financial assistance for research projects. 3 It may assign research mandates to institutes belonging to federal and cantonal universities or other institutes.
Art. 116 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955). Art. 116 — Amended by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Art. 117
Repealed by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, with effect from 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Chapter 2 Exploitation and Exchange of Knowledge
Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 118 Connecting corridors
The Confederation may provide financial assistance to organisations and for projects that contribute to networks connecting research, education and advisory services with practices in the agricultural and food sector.
Art. 118 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 119 Pilot and demonstration projects
The Confederation may provide financial assistance for: a. pilot projects that test scientific findings from research for practical use; b. demonstration projects that communicate new technologies, methods, processes and services to practitioners and the public.
Art. 119 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 120 Competence and innovation networks
The Confederation may provide financial assistance for the creation and operation of competence and innovation networks.
Art. 120 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 121 Stud farm
1 The Confederation shall operate a national stud farm as a competence centre for horse-breeding and -keeping. The FOAG shall be responsible for the stud farm. 2 The Federal Council shall determine the stud farm’s responsibilities.
Art. 121 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 122–135
Repealed by Annex No II 5 of the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act of 13 Dec. 2002, in effect since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4557; BBl 2000 5686).
Chapter 2a Advisory Services
Previously Section 4 of Chap. 2. Amended by Annex No II 5 of the FA of 13 Dec. 2002 on Vocational and Professional Education and Training, in force since 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4557; BBl 2000 5686).
Art. 136 Tasks and organisation
1 Advisory services are intended for people employed in agriculture, household management in agriculture, agricultural organisations or in the development of rural areas, as well as in ensuring and promoting the quality of agricultural products. Such people are supported in their professional work and in relation to their further professional training. 2 The cantonal authorities provide advisory services at a cantonal level. 3 The Confederation provides financial assistance within the limits of the approved credits for advisory services to supra-regional or national organisations or institutions that are active in special areas, as well as to national advisory offices. 3bis The Confederation may support preliminary investigations for communal project initiatives. 4 Support is provided for advisory activities aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge, information and experience between researchers and those working in the field, between agricultural businesses and those mentioned in
Art. 136 — Amended by No II 8 of the FA of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Fiscal Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons, in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029). Para. 3bis — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 6095; BBl 2006 6337).
Art. 137 and 138
Repealed by No II 29 of the FA of 6 Oct. 2006 on the New System of Fiscal Equalisation and Division of Tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons, with effect from 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 5779; BBl 2005 6029).
Art. 139
Repealed by No I of the FA of 20 June 2003, with effect from 1 Jan. 2004 (AS 2003 4217; BBl 2002 4721, 7234).
Chapter 3 Horticulture, Livestock Breeding and Gen
Amended by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Section 1 Horticulture
Art. 140
1 The Confederation may promote the breeding of commercial plants which: a. are of high ecological value; b. are of high quality; or c. have been adapted to the conditions prevailing in the various parts of the country. 2 It may provide subsidies for private plant breeders and specialised organisations that provide services for the general good, namely for: a. breeding, maintaining the purity of and improving varieties; b. experimental cultivation; c. … 3 It may subsidise the production of seeds and seedlings.
Para. 2 let. c — Repealed by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, with effect from 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Section 2 Livestock Breeding
Art. 141 Promotion of livestock breeding
1 The Confederation may promote the breeding of livestock which: a. is adapted to the prevailing natural conditions and is healthy; and b. leads to the market-orientated and low-cost production of high-quality products. 2 It may support breeding measures carried out by recognised organisations and by federal and cantonal university institutes by providing subsidies. 3 The subsidies for breeding measures shall be granted in particular for: a. the conduct of a dedicated breeding programme aimed at developing the genetic basis, including keeping a stud book, monitoring animal genetic resources, and recording and evaluating breeding traits, provided that the breeding programme takes due account of economic viability, product quality, resource efficiency, environmental impact, animal health and animal welfare; b. measures to preserve Swiss breeds and their genetic diversity; c. research projects to support the measures mentioned in letters a and b. 4 The Federal Council may stipulate additi
Art. 141 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 142–144
Repealed by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, with effect from 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 145
Repealed by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, with effect from 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Art. 146 Import requirements relating to livestock breeding and genealogy
The Federal Council may introduce requirements relating to breeding and genealogy for the importing of animals for breeding, sperm, ova and embryos.
Art. 146a Cloned and genetically modified livestock
The Federal Council may issue regulations concerning the breeding, importing or circulation of cloned and genetically modified livestock and their issue.
Art. 146a — Inserted by Annex No 8 of the Gene Technology Act of 21 March 2003 (AS 2003 4803; BBl 2000 2391). Amended by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 146b Use of data for scientific purposes
1 Organisations supported pursuant to Article 141 must make data on breeding characteristics available for scientific purposes. 2 The Federal Council shall regulate the form, extent and purpose of the data.
Art. 146b — Inserted by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Art. 147
Repealed by No I of the FA of 16 June 2023, with effect from 1 Jan. 2025 (AS 2024 623; BBl 2020 3955).
Section 3 Genetic Resources for Agriculture and Fo
Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463, 3863; BBl 2012 2075).
Art. 147a Maintenance and sustainable use of genetic resources
1 The Confederation may encourage the maintenance and the sustainable use of genetic resources. It may keep genetic banks and maintenance registers or may mandate another agency to do so and subsidise measures such as in situ maintenance in particular. 2 The Federal Council may stipulate requirements regarding genetic banks, maintenance registers, measures and entitlement to subsidies. It shall draw up criteria for the allocation of subsidies.
Art. 147b Access to genetic resources and allocation of advantages
Insofar as international commitments exist, the Federal Council shall regulate access to genetic resources and the allocation of advantages arising from the use of such resources.