Swiss Launch Vote Drive to Ban Genetically Modified Foods

 - Agence France Presse, 18 February 2003
 
Swiss environmental organisations and lawmakers on Tuesday launched a
referendum drive to slap a five-year ban on genetically modified (GM)
foods, ATS news agency reported. Environmental, rural and consumer
organisations joined 15 MPs from six political parties in calling for a
referendum, which could impose a five-year ban on commercial use of GM
plants and total ban on the use of genetically modified animals.

However GMOs would be allowed for research, under strict conditions.
According to Swiss federal law, the "Stop GMO" campaign has 18 months to
collect 100,000 signatures in order to call a referendum. Referendum
organisers estimate 70 to 80 percent of Swiss consumers opt out of buying
GM foods and agricultural products.