Faster Approval of Crop Protection Products Long Overdue
Switzerland is busy banning active substances that have also been withdrawn from the EU market. But in the other direction, it is dragging its feet: modern products that are already approved in neighboring countries remain blocked here. That could finally change now. The Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee of the National Council has adopted a corresponding proposal.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
The WAK-N wants to streamline the procedure: by 16 votes to 9, it supports the parliamentary initiative by Bregy. Plant protection products approved in an EU neighboring country, Belgium, or the Netherlands should become available more quickly via a simplified procedure—provided that the agronomic and ecological conditions are comparable. A majority also supports adopting relevant emergency approvals from the EU so that Swiss farms are no longer at a disadvantage under acute pest pressure.
The Federal Council is also moving
The Federal Council has adopted the total revision of the Plant Protection Products Ordinance. This is a step toward greater transparency and more efficient processes. It is a move in the right direction, but the Federal Council’s proposal still falls short. The corset remains too tight, and truly faster approvals cannot be derived from it. That is why implementing the parliamentary initiative Bregy remains important and urgent.
The pressure for reform is high. More than 700 crop protection products are awaiting a decision. At the same time, the number of available active substances has shrunk significantly; emergency approvals have recently reached record levels. Old substances are disappearing, while new ones—often more selective and environmentally friendly—are not coming in. This increases the risk of crop losses, for example in sugar beets or in viticulture affected by mildew, and forces the government to grant exemptions more and more often.
Switzerland needs a streamlined, EU-compatible approval system with clear deadlines and reasonable fees. Faster access to modern products reduces environmental impacts and strengthens supply security. Now it remains to be seen how the Federal Council and the administration will set the course.
Still unsure whether faster approval is necessary? Then a subscription to the agricultural media is worthwhile—the reality is striking: reports about invasive and domestic pests, from the spotted-wing drosophila to the Japanese beetle and the Asian hornet, fill the pages. Here’s the link to BauernZeitung. And here to Schweizer Bauer.
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