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What’s involved in Switzerland’s next move to ease lockdown restrictions?

Switzerland is expected to announce a further easing of lockdown restrictions on Friday. Here’s what’s in store.

Published: 18 June 2020 17:06 CEST
Updated: 18 June 2020 21:45 CEST

What's involved in Switzerland's next move to ease lockdown restrictions?

Will live sporting attendance be allowed again? Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP

On Friday, June 19th, Switzerland’s Federal Council will meet to discuss the next round of lockdown relaxations.

According to Swiss media sources, Health Minister Alain Berset is set to announce the following changes to Switzerland’s lockdown measures.

Masks

Unlike its neighbours, Switzerland has avoided a mask requirement.

As reported in The Local Switzerland earlier in the week, the government will on Friday discuss whether or not one should be introduced.

Stand a little closer to me

Currently, the government requires a distance of two metres.

This is to be shortened to 1.5 metres, according to media sources.

Although the government stopped handing out fines to people in late May, the rules remain in force and fines are levied for restaurants and bars who do not comply.

READ: Warnings in Switzerland of a 'second wave in summer' as coronavirus R-Rate rises above 1

More people at events

The upper limit on events is to be extended from 300 to 1,000 people.

This includes summer camps, protests, trade fairs, private events and ceremonies, theatre performances and film screenings.

Protests will no longer require registration with Swiss authorities.

All night long

Restaurants and discos will now be allowed to open after midnight, after the so-called ‘police hour’ was lifted.

No more state of emergency

As was announced during the previous round of lockdown relaxations on May 27th, the official government state of emergency will be lifted on Friday, June 19th.

The state of emergency was first declared on March 16th.

This is the date when the state of emergency will end in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino.

Ticino, which shares a long border with northern Italy, has been the hardest hit canton on a per capita basis.

In addition to a longer state of emergency period, Ticino was also the last to emerge from the lockdown restrictions.

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EXPLAINED: What does the 'bio' label on foods in Switzerland really mean?

In its press release published in June 2024, Bio Suisse, an umbrella group for organic food producers, said that residents of Switzerland are international ‘bio’ champions.

“With consumption of 454 francs per capita, Switzerland ranks first in international comparison,” the organisation said. “In no other European country is the organic basket of goods as large.”

In terms of preference for organic food, “Switzerland is ahead of Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden. Germany follows in sixth place and France just behind in seventh place,” Bio-Suisse added.

This finding is not surprising because the consumption of this more expensive type of food is directly linked to income: the wealthier the country, the more its residents are willing to spend on organic products.

What does a ‘bio’ label stand for in Switzerland?

In a nutshell, organic products must meet much higher standards and comply with more requirements than the ‘conventional’ foods in the way they are grown and manufactured.

Contrary to most conventional production methods, organic farming is more sustainable — that is, it protects the environment and conserves resources instead of depleting them.

A total of 7,362 organic farmers and producers are members of Bio Suisse.

In addition, more than 2,300 operations abroad are also certified according to the Bio Suisse standards, which means their farming / production methods are equivalent to those practiced in Switzerland.

Can you trust a ‘bio’ label, or is it just a lot of hype (as some people claim?)

In Switzerland, this process is strictly controlled by various organic farming ordinances, which are enforced by the Federal Office for Agriculture (BLW).

This means that every farm that produces, prepares, trades or imports organic products is inspected and certified at least once a year by one of the four accredited and approved certification bodies in Switzerland.

These laws also set out the principles by which agricultural products and foodstuffs labelled as organic must be made, and which non-toxic substances are authorised for use in organic farming and for preparing organic food.

Why are organic products more expensive than conventional ones?

Among the main reasons are more rigorous production and certification standards, which must meet all the requirements set out by the BLW.

Also, operational costs involved in the use of natural, pesticide-free fertilisers and high-quality animal feed, are higher in organic farming than in conventional one.

Additionally, the supply of organic food in Swiss supermarkets is more limited than that of conventional one, which pushes prices up.

And then there is this often-asked question: is organic food in Switzerland in really healthier?

Some people will swear by the better quality and higher nutritional value of organic products, while others will say the benefits are exaggerated.

There is no definite answer to this question, except this: some studies have shown possible health benefits of organic foods when compared with foods grown using conventional process.

However, there is limited information to prove how these differences can give potential overall health benefits.

But Zurich authorities believe in the ‘power’ of organic foods: in 2022, they mandated that most of the food served in the city’s hospitals, care centres, childcare facilities, and schools, be organic.

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