The Swiss government intends to roll over the national ban on the use of
agricultural biotechnology for three more years until 2013.
Switzerland's agriculture will stay "GMO-free" until 2013 when the
outcome of a National Research Programme (NRP59) on the benefits and
risks of genetically modified plants has been concluded and the outcome
is known. Programme results are expected by mid 2012.

The research programme was initiated shortly after the adoption of the
current national moratorium in 2005. This ban prohibits the cultivation
of genetically modified plants and the market placement of transgenic
animals for food production. However, unless further action is taken,
the moratorium will expire in November 2010.

The Swiss government has questioned the sense of beginning commercial
agro-biotechnology before research results on the particularities of
local agriculture and the environment are known. Solely on the basis of
the results of NRP59 would it be possible to institute regulations for
the growing of GM crops that guarantee the biosafety of genetically
modified plants as well as co-existence between GM, conventional and
organic production systems. The administration intends therefore to
prolong the national moratorium, which also ensures that the research
programme be conducted and concluded without political pressure.

Furthermore, the Swiss government sees no reason to lift the ban at all,
since it has caused no problems in agriculture, in research or in
international relations. Swiss agriculture rather has been enabled
thereby to distinguish itself in a positive manner from competitors as
GMO-free.

www.checkbiotech.org