Agriculture Proposal to adopt EU plant protection meets with praise and criticism

Proposals by a National Council committee to adopt EU plant protection product approvals in Switzerland in principle have met with a mixed response in the consultation process. The legislative project has met with both approval and vehement rejection.

The SVP, the Center Party, the FDP, the trade association Scienceindustries and the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Schwyz are all in favour of amending the Agriculture Act in line with the proposal. This is clear from their statements. The consultation ended on Monday.

The SP, the Greens, the nature and environmental organizations united in the Environmental Alliance and the Association of Swiss Wastewater and Water Protection Experts (VSA) said no.

The supporters say, among other things, that the longer the pesticides are available to Swiss farmers, the fewer they will be. Simplifying the approval procedure is the right thing to do. Opponents say, among other things, that Switzerland risks becoming the "pesticide hotspot of Europe".

SDA