Living in an era where information travels faster than ever, exploring new and unique aspects of the world has become incredibly easy. Thanks to the internet, we are increasingly aware of the differences in culture, traditions, and even unique laws across countries that are thousands of kilometers away from us.
Unique Laws Around the World
- 1. Contacting employees after working hours is illegal in Portugal
- 2. Edited photos must carry a special hashtag
- 3. Basel, Switzerland requires all new buildings to have “green roofs”
- 4. Planting two trees for every baby born in Wales, UK
- 5. Fruits and vegetables in Spain will not be packaged in plastic bags by 2023
- 6. Owning only one guinea pig in Switzerland is illegal
- 7. California mandates grocery stores to donate surplus food
- 8. South Africa will ban keeping lions in captivity
- 9. France bans short domestic flights
- 10. In some US states, letting your dog outside in cold weather is illegal
Here are some remarkable laws that will make anyone wish for their country to adopt similar practices soon.
1. Contacting employees after working hours is illegal in Portugal
To improve work-life balance, Portugal enacted a new law in 2021 that prohibits employers from contacting employees via phone, text, or email after work hours unless it’s an emergency.
2. Edited photos must carry a special hashtag
In Norway, there is a law requiring influencers to use a special #hashtag to inform their followers whether a photo has been edited. This law aims to combat psychological issues and misconceptions about beauty and perfection among youth.
3. Basel, Switzerland requires all new buildings to have “green roofs”
This law makes Basel the first city in the world to mandate the planting of greenery on the rooftops of new buildings. Recently, even renovated buildings must comply with this regulation. This initiative aims to increase greenery in the city to combat dust and pollution.
4. Planting two trees for every baby born in Wales, UK
This initiative by the Welsh government commemorates the birth of each child by planting two trees—one in Wales and another in the deforested areas of Uganda. This law also applies to families who adopt children.
5. Fruits and vegetables in Spain will not be packaged in plastic bags by 2023
This law, effective next year in Spain, encourages consumers to use their own reusable bags and containers when purchasing fruits and vegetables at stores or farmer’s markets, contributing to environmental protection and reducing non-biodegradable waste.
6. Owning only one guinea pig in Switzerland is illegal
Guinea pigs are social animals, and they can easily feel lonely and bored if kept alone. This is why in Switzerland, it is illegal to adopt only one guinea pig; you must adopt at least two. Additionally, there are services available in the country to provide a “friend” for lonely guinea pigs if their partner sadly passes away.
7. California mandates grocery stores to donate surplus food
Grocery stores and supermarkets dealing with surplus food have become a common issue. To optimize this food, California has introduced a new law that takes effect at the beginning of 2022.
Under this law, food retailers are now obligated to donate all edible surplus food to those in need. Furthermore, California plans to expand and apply this law to restaurants and hotels in the future.
8. South Africa will ban keeping lions in captivity
This is a significant advancement in the rights of lions in South Africa. The law aims to prohibit the captivity of lions for hunting or tourist purposes after reports indicated that such practices threaten the conservation efforts for lions in the wild and negatively impact tourism.
9. France bans short domestic flights
This law applies only to extremely short flights, from locations where passengers can travel by train in under 2 to 2.5 hours. The reason is that train travel is often cheaper and significantly less polluting than flying. Therefore, this ban will support environmental protection and promote sustainable tourism.
10. In some US states, letting your dog outside in cold weather is illegal
Recently, the state of Pennsylvania in the US passed a law prohibiting dog owners from leaving their pets outside for more than 30 minutes in excessively cold or hot weather. Meanwhile, other states like Texas have similar laws aimed at protecting beloved family pets.
