As Switzerland is not part of the European Union, it has set its own policy and regulations on gene editing. Switzerland has a history of being a very aggressive opponent of biotechnology in all forms of agriculture.
In 2022, the Swiss parliament eased restrictions on gene edited crops while extending in principle a moratorium for transgenic genetically engineered organisms until the end of 2025, stating that plants developed through gene editing techniques like CRISPR that do not contain transgenes will not be considered genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The stipulation is that there is a clear benefit for farmers, consumers, and the environment over conventional breeding.
Parliament has asked the government to propose details on the use of gene editing and other NBTs on plants and seeds by 2024 with the purpose of approving some new techniques. For now, the GMO law stays intact. Exemptions to GMO restrictions would only be allowed if the plants provide an added value for agriculture, consumers and the environment compared with conventional methods. The current GMO ban does not include limitations on growing crops for research, although research remains limited.
The more flexible approach to gene editing and other New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) was a departure for Switzerland. The parliament first voted for a moratorium on GMOs in 2005, and it has been extended multiple times since. The claimed aim of the law was to “guarantee that genetic engineering serves the welfare of human beings, animals and environment.” Previously, only one experimental GM crop had been grown in Switzerland, at the University of Zurich.
Scientific and agricultural groups have expressed opposition to the strict laws regulating genetic engineering of crops. Their concern has grown as gene editing research and experimentation exploded in countries outside of Europe. Agroscope, the Swiss federal body for agriculture research, expressed its frustration with the recent extension of GMO limitations, saying it is a waste of precious time as global food shortages loom’.
A 2021 poll found that more than 80% of the Swiss support gene editing if it leads to disease-resistant crops and/or reduces pesticide use. More than 70% supported gene edited crops if they reduce global warming, prevent food waste, lower consumer prices or help protect regional markets.
The Swiss association Varieties for Tomorrow was formed in 2021 in a stated attempt to lobby the government to liberalize the regulation of NBTs. It includes the label organization IP-Suisse, Swiss Consumer Forum, seed company Delley Samen und Pflanzen AG and the agricultural cooperative Fenaco.
In October 2022, the Federal Ethics Commission for Non-Human Biotechnology said techniques like CRISPR would likely have a limited impact on alleviating the effects of climate change. The commission, a long-time opponent of crop biotechnology, urged that Switzerland should instead focus on reducing greenhouse emissions and water usage of agriculture. An alliance of food retailers and farmers, called ‘Varieties for Tomorrow’, expressed its disappointment with the report, calling for regulatory approval for new plant breeding methods by 2024.
Products/Research
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- Virus-resistant cassava, 2019: Researchers at the Swiss Technical University (ETH) in Zürich are using CRISPR and other technologies to study cassava resistance to geminiviruses.
- Fungal-resistant Barley, 2019: Researchers at the Swiss Technical University (ETH) in Zürich grow genetically modified barley into which a wheat resistance gene against fungal diseases has been introduced.
Regulatory timeline:
2022: Swiss parliament decided that gene-edited plants with no transgenic material inserted are no longer classified as GMOs.
2021: The 2005 moratorium on GMO agriculture use is extended until 2025.
2019: Experimental release of genetically-modified barley allowed for research purposes.
2005: Switzerland bans the use of GMO in agriculture following a nationwide referendum on the subject.
NGO reaction:
Opposition to GMO usage in Switzerland originates with international organizations such as Greenpeace, which has protested and destroyed genetically-modified crops developed for research purposes. The Swiss Alliance for Gene-Free Agriculture and the Schweiz Allianz Gentechfrei also support the GMO moratorium and want it extended to gene editing, arguing that genetic engineering would “endanger natural agriculture and do great damage to the image of Swiss agriculture.”
Resources:
Updated: 01/31/2023
