Parliamentary initiative 19.475
Parliament and the Federal Council adopted measures to reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint by implementing parliamentary initiative 19.475 ‘Reducing the risks associated with pesticide use.
Content of parliamentary initiative 19.475
As part of its review of the popular initiative on drinking water and the initiative on pesticides, the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee submitted parliamentary initiative (Pa. Iv.) 19.475 ‘Reducing the risks associated with pesticide use’. This calls for the introduction of measures to further reduce agriculture’s harmful effects on the environment, in particular the risks associated with the use of plant protection products and nutrient loss. A reduction pathway is enshrined in legislation, with target values for the risks arising from the use of pesticides.
Adoption
On 19 March 2021, Parliament adopted the Federal Act on Reducing the Risks associated with Pesticide Use (PRRA), which amends the Chemicals Act, the Waters Protection Act and the Agriculture Act. The PRRA mainly consists of the ‘package of measures as an alternative to the initiative on drinking water’ proposed by the Federal Council in AP22+ and the requests set out in Pa. Iv. 19.475. In particular, the PRRA stipulates that groundwater pollution and the risks to surface waters and close-to-nature habitats resulting from the use of plant protection products must be reduced by 50% by 2027 compared with the average levels for 2012–2015.
Implementation
On 13 April 2022, the Federal Council approved the ordinance package for clean drinking water and more sustainable agriculture contained in Pa. Iv. 19.475, giving effect to the provisions of the Agriculture Act. This package incorporates most of the implementation measures originally planned under the initiative on clean drinking water, which was part of AP22+. The new provisions provide better protection for the environment against the impact of plant protection products and excess fertilising elements. They also enable the Federal Council to respond to a range of requests from the agricultural sector. The measures came into force on 1 January 2023.
Further information
Index
Altri temi
Convenzioni sugli obiettivi concernenti lo schema di riduzione delle perdite di sostanze nutritive
Il settore agricolo si impegna ad adottare misure per attuare lo schema di riduzione delle perdite di sostanze nutritive concludendo convenzioni sugli obiettivi con la Confederazione.
Agricultural Policy 2022+ (AP22+)
Agricultural Policy 2022+ (AP22+) sets out the regulatory framework and current financial resources needed to respond to the concerns of the population and agricultural sector. AP22+ was adopted by Parliament in June 2023. It enables agriculture to respond to the population’s economic, social and environmental concerns.