Pests National Council insists on combating the Japanese beetle

The National Council is calling for increased research activities and urgent and effective measures to combat the invasive Japanese beetle in Switzerland. To this end, it adopted a motion by Alex Farinelli (FDP/TI) by 122 votes to 63.

This is the time to push ahead with research, said Farinelli in the Council on Thursday. The Japanese beetle first appeared in Switzerland seven years ago and has spread very quickly since then, despite countermeasures. "It would be good to have measures in place to at least limit this problem."

Agriculture Minister Guy Parmelin acknowledged the extreme danger posed by the beetle to agricultural crops and forests, but was against the motion. The federal government coordinates the control measures and bears up to 75 percent of the costs of the cantons. However, sustainable control is difficult.

There are now several populations of the beetle in Switzerland, Parmelin explained. Time could be gained with the measures taken since 2028, including research projects. The federal government wants to do everything it can to prevent the spread of the voracious beetle, which feeds on around 300 plant species, as far as possible.

The motion now goes to the Council of States.