The Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV) of April 2008, is based on the Swiss Animal Welfare Act (TSchG), but does nonetheless contain oppositions to the latter. For instance, Article 25 paragraph 4 reads "The animal keeper shall take reasonable precautions to prevent the animals from excessively reproducing" (unauthorised translation). It is questionable if castration is compatible with the respect for the dignity of living beings as prescribed by the Animal Welfare Act.

Concerning animal experiments, the Ordinance defines in detail the conditions under which these experiments are allowed to be conducted as well as the manner in which the laboratory animals are to be kept. Straining animal experiments have to be applied for and be reported at the cantonal Committee for Animal Experiments. The cantonal agency keeps the Committee’s decision in mind.

Due to a decision of the Swiss Parliament in 2012, the Swiss Animal Welfare Act underwent further individual amendments that came into force on 1 January 2013. The essential reforms include the prohibition of the trade of dog and cat fur as well as the transit of animals through Switzerland and the import of dolphins and whales. The core principles of the Animal Welfare Act are not affected by the amendments.