Switzerland's Economic Supply agency is responding to the shortage of protein feed. Starting September 1, 2026, companies will be permitted to withdraw limited quantities from mandatory stockpiles.
The federal government refers to this as a temporary supply coverage shortfall. Simply put, this means the prescribed storage quantity may temporarily fall below the required level. Until the end of February 2027 at the latest, a maximum of 20 percent of the total inventory can be withdrawn. This corresponds to approximately 16,000 tonnes.
Mandatory stockpiles are not owned by the federal government, but by the participating companies. However, the federal government mandates which goods and quantities must be stored. Protein carrier reserves are normally intended to cover Switzerland's two-month supply requirement.
According to the federal government, the bottleneck does not lie in available goods. Sufficient protein carriers are available on the global market. The problem is the transport routes through Europe and into Switzerland. Due to low water levels, ships on the Rhine and Danube can only operate at significantly reduced cargo capacity. In some cases, passage is no longer possible.
At the same time, more goods are being shifted to rail and road transport. However, available capacity on these routes is also limited. Swiss importers are therefore currently unable to bring sufficient goods into the country.
Soybean meal is particularly important. This is a protein-rich byproduct from soybean oil production. Switzerland is almost entirely dependent on imports for soybean meal. It is primarily used in cattle, pig, and poultry farming.
Should the supply situation deteriorate further, Economy Minister Guy Parmelin could use an ordinance to release larger quantities or the entire mandatory stockpile for withdrawal. However, this step has not yet been decided.
