The Federal Government releases compulsory storage with protein-rich feed because low water levels on the Rhine and Danube make it difficult to import to Switzerland. Economic Minister Guy Parmelin ordered the release; the corresponding Regulation enters into force on 15 October 2026.
Since the beginning of September, according to the Federal Office for Economic Land Supply, 9.5 percent of the total amount of compulsory storage has been collected. It is the first actual collection since the compulsory storage system for food and feed.
There are plenty of protein carriers available in the international markets, according to the Federal Government's data on transport: Because of the low water, ships can charge less, while railways and roads are heavily loaded. Imports continue to flow, but Switzerland reaches smaller quantities than usual.
The mandatory warehouses are designed to cover the need for two months in the event of a total drop in imports. They are mainly soya, rape and sunflower extraction scrap, which serve as a source of protein in feed for cattle, pigs and poultry.