6-Regulation: Swiss back GM moratorium and Sunday shopping

[GENET <coordination@genet-info.org>]

------------------------------- GENET-news -------------------------------

TITLE:  Swiss back GM moratorium and Sunday shopping
SOURCE: swissinfo
        http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?
siteSect=106&sid=6271033&cKey=1133115915000
DATE:   27 Nov 2005

------------------ archive:  http://www.genet-info.org/ ------------------


Swiss back GM moratorium and Sunday shopping

Voters have given their approval to a five-year ban on genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) in Swiss agriculture.

By a wafer-thin majority the electorate also endorsed plans to ease
restrictions on Sunday shopping, which had been challenged by trade unions.

Final results show 55.7 per cent of voters approved a people's initiative
put forward by environmentalists and consumers groups for a temporary ban
on GMOs in agriculture.

All 26 cantons came out in favour of the moratorium.

It is a rare occurrence in Swiss politics for a people's initiative to be
passed in a nationwide ballot. To do so it requires a majority of the
popular vote and the backing of more than half the cantons.

Turnout was average at 42 per cent.

Consumers and research

Supporters of the moratorium, mainly from the political centre-left, said
their victory proved the power of the alliance between environmentalists,
consumer organisations and farmers.

In their campaign they had argued that GMOs are neither in the interest
of consumers nor of Swiss farmers, and that a moratorium is an
opportunity for farmers to improve their marketing or organic products.

The government, the business community as well as the main centre-right
and rightwing parties were all against the temporary ban.

They said the current law contains enough safety guarantees and a ban
could be detrimental to biotechnology research in the country.

Campaigners for a moratorium said they were not opposed to research but
wanted more time to consider the potential risks of GMOs

The ballot on the GMO moratorium comes after parliament passed a new law
in 2003, which allows GM crops in Switzerland under certain conditions.


Urban centres

In a separate vote, the Swiss narrowly approved an amendment to the
labour law aimed at easing restrictions on Sunday trading at the
country's main railway stations and airports.

Final results show 50.6 per cent of voters - predominantly in seven urban
regions - approved the legislation, with 49.4 per cent against.

Economics Minister Joseph Deiss welcomed the outcome of the vote but
warned against hasty steps towards a further liberalisation of Sunday trading.

The trade unions, supported by the centre-left Social Democrats and the
country's main churches, had mounted a challenge to the revised
legislation. They are concerned relaxed regulations will lead to a seven-
day working week.

Three of the main centre-right and rightwing parties, as well as the
business community argued that there was growing consumer demand for
shops to open on Sundays.

Shops in Switzerland usually remain closed on Sundays and public holidays
but numerous exceptions have been introduced, mainly in tourists areas,
at service stations, airports and railway stations.




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GENET
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