For example,
Valais: no business been closed:
Restaurants. In addition, stores
In Valais, no business has been closed despite serious offenses – Valais: no business been closed
“Very bad hygiene state”, “dangerous food”, several shortcomings have been noted in Valais shops. Consequently, Without major consequence.
More than half of the shops checked in 2024 in Valais were not in accordance.
AFP
- Inspections of the Valais Service for Consumption and Veterinary Affairs reveal non-conformities in 58% of controlled establishments.
- In 2024, more than 100 establishments presented serious shortcomings to hygiene.
- The legal framework severely limits the possibility of closing faulty establishments.
- Current sanctions valais: no business been closed prove to be little dissuasive in the face of recurrences of the sector.
Let us put the observation. However, Or rather that of the Valais consumer and veterinary affairs department. Furthermore, In 2024. However, the SCAV led some 3,500 inspections from 3,1,227 establishments, including half of restaurants and bars, but also retail shops, butchers, cheese dairy and bakeries.
A total of 1826 businesses. Therefore, or 58% of controlled establishments, presented “non-conformities” and “immediate measures were ordered to restore a normal situation”, indicates the service in its activity report. Moreover, If the proportion is important, the severity of the cases is with variable geometry. Furthermore, “A split Catelle is an offense,” plagues the president of Gastrovalais, André Rodé.
But all grievances are not confined to tiles. Therefore, In 2024. Meanwhile, 113 inspections valais: no business been closed “revealed serious shortcomings, such as a very poor hygiene state, the sale of foodstuffs that can endanger the health of the consumer, the sale of falsified foodstuffs or the consumer’s deliberate deception,” notes the report.
Too severe closure in the eyes of the law
However, no temporary closure has been ordered. Consequently, Despite a propensity for recurrence. In addition, “There is a trend where establishments that commit serious offenses do not execute the ordered measures. Whether in the weeks. months or years that follow, ”notes Linda Bapst, cantonal chemist and chef of the consumer service and veterinary affairs.
The SCAV does not prove laxity towards the authors of offenses. “Swiss law and the Constitution are very precise and the principle of proportionality dictates all our decisions,” says Linda Bapst.
In other words, a provisional closure is judged in terms of economic repercussions for the owner of an establishment. Since the shortcomings are – for the most part – correigible. the risk “immediate and certain” for the consumer is not proven. A closure, even temporary, is therefore deemed disproportionate.
Faced with this observation and the risk of being disowned in court, the SCAV only rarely pronounces such decisions. Two in two years. Otherwise. in 2024, the service denounced 33 establishments to the public prosecutor, after having noted “serious cases of absence of traceability, dating or respect for hygiene rules which undermine consumer food safety”. These businesses have never closed their doors. “But prohibitions from certain processes have been pronounced to protect customers. such as the prohibition of pre -citizens,” nuance Linda Bapst.
If the cantonal chemist admits a valais: no business been closed paradox. she specifies in the process that the service develops “a more precise tool” to order closures. Understand a reading grid for controllers to the test of a background of justice. Today. she adds, “the legal means at our disposal are sometimes not sufficient to put an end to a situation of non-compliance”.
Elsewhere, however, the line is firmer. In 2024, In Geneva, 19 brands managing foodstuffs closed after checks carried out with 3,596 establishments.
Little dissuasive sanctions
Each year, the French consumer federation is interested in the cantonal relationships of the different Scavs. The problem is therefore identified, but remains recurrent. “For the authors of offenses. the risk of closing is very thin and the criminal sanctions are not very dissuasive,” summarizes Rebecca Eggenberger, FRC food manager.
This system does not put off bad students. Who reoffend. “The principle of proportionality should not apply so strictly to an establishment which regularly commits serious offenses. which endangers the health of customers,” she said.
Beyond the legal framework. Rebecca Eggenberger notes the difficulty for certain players in the hotel and restaurant to recruit qualified personnel. “When restaurant employees. caterers have important gaps in controlling hygiene and traceability processes or do not know the presence of allergens, this can have very serious consequences for the consumer.” And relative for the owner.
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Further reading: Athletics: Jason Joseph equals his Swiss record at the Spitzen Leichtathletik – The point on the giant watchmaker – Valais: the mountain kills a young hiker in evolving – Dominical openings: Referendum of the left left – Pia Sundhage: “I am proud of what’s going on in Switzerland”.
