The Federal Council has announced that Switzerland intends to adjust the criteria for pesticide residues in food and the environment. The government believes that the current standards, which are stricter than those in the European Union, too often lead to bans without any concrete health risk. Especially for imported products, exceeding the limit does not automatically mean that the food is harmful.
According to the Swiss government, the adjustment is necessary to make food legislation more realistic. The Federal Council emphasizes that the relaxation is not about allowing harmful substances, but about adjusting standards based on the most current scientific knowledge.
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union but voluntarily adopts many EU rules. This is done on the basis of bilateral agreements and Swiss legislation, but not one-to-one. In the case of pesticides, Switzerland has so far often been stricter than the EU. The proposed relaxation means that the country wants to align itself more closely with EU standards on this point.
The Swiss farmers' lobby has long been urging for more flexible rules. According to agricultural organizations, the current standards not only complicate food production but also create uncertainty among farmers. The sector also complains about the costs of additional inspections and the risk that products from abroad with more relaxed standards will dominate the Swiss market.
Opponents say that relaxing the rules sends the wrong signal. Environmental organizations and consumer associations are concerned about an increase in harmful substances in food and water. They refer to recent research showing that pesticide residues are increasingly found in Swiss products, including substances that are actually banned.
A recent report from Swiss control agencies found that banned pesticides were detected during inspections at farms. Inspectors found that some farmers continue to use products that pose risks to human health and the environment despite prohibition rules. These findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of the current control system.
Concern has also arisen in neighboring countries such as France. In the region around Nantes, a Swiss pesticide was detected in drinking water. Although the substance was not authorized in France, it was found to have spread through the air or groundwater. The issue has led to tensions between Swiss and French authorities regarding cross-border environmental impacts.