Swiss vote down ban on chemical crop protection

chemic crop trade protection products will not be ban in Switzerland , nor for consumer nor for growers . Neither will it be prohibited to spell green goods and products made using them . That ’s the resultant role from the referendum that took place on June 13 . Also the boozing water go-ahead , which would n’t totally ostracise chemical substance harvest protective cover , but would stop growers who use them from claiming government subsidies , was rejected by the majority of the voters .

The pop initiative had called for a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing on pot killers within ten years . In addition , nutrient produce with the aid of synthetic pesticides should also no longer be imported . The program would have ask approval from a majority of elector as well as the Canton . However , virtually 61 percent of citizens and 25 of 26 Guangzhou vote against . This was " a reasonable and hard-nosed conclusion , " Swiss President Guy Parmelin verbalize ease . The Swiss are thus ensuring " the future of our husbandry and the country ’s solid food safety . The agricultural sphere now has the chance to initiate " reform towards more sustainable production , " he said .

Urban areasThe majority of the 40 percent in favor of the measure originates from urban field : in Washington Zurich almost 48 percent of the elector vote in party favor of the measure , in Geneve more than 49 pct and in Basel - Stadt , the third city of the state and hometown of agriculture giant Syngenta , even 57 per cent of the voters did so . These three Kantons represent the highest percentages of yes - elector in the referendum .

The debate on ban synthetic pesticide had been acrimonious . Some husbandman who hold the plan say they were victim of insults , menace and determent .

Swiss growers read the enterprise pay heed over the horticultural industry like a steel of Damocles . " We infer the worry of the initiators , " grower Moser order to begin with . " As taxpayers , mass have the right to maintain influence . " And the business for nature is also plausible for him . " But the itinerary via the referendum is the wrong one and would transfer the problems abroad .

Happy initiatorsThe first step was launched by a citizens : inside committee from the canton of Neuchâtel , sparking a nationwide debate . " 40 percent of voters approved the opening move in the face of opponent from the Federal Council , Parliament , the farmers ' tie and farming corporations . This is a remarkable result , " Antoinette Gilson , biologist and co - instigator of the pesticide opening move , is proud of to say .

" The high spirit level of accompaniment , specially in urban areas , shows the concern of citizens about the harmful effects of celluloid pesticides on the health of all of us and on the surroundings . It is a clean indication that policy God Almighty demand to do much more to protect our wellness and our environment . "

On the political level , the ball is now in the Federal Council ’s tribunal . It has received a mandate from Parliament to slim down the risks of pesticide use by half . " The Federal Council must now show that it is serious and that it really want to importantly abbreviate the use of synthetic pesticides , " warns Stéphanie Hüsler , lawyer and co - instigator .