Swiss vote to become first European nation to ban synthetic pesticides

Protesters hold a banner reading 'sprayed pesticides, exposed children, endangered health, enough' during a rally called by 'Bio Nouvelle-Aquitaine', against the Plan Strategique National (PSN) bill for the next Common Agricultural Policy (2023-2027), in Bordeaux

* Switzerland holds two votes on June 13 * One referendum seeks to outlaw synthetic pesticides * Other vote aims to improve Switzerland's drinking water * Opinion polls show both are likely to be close Switzerland could become the first European country to ban artificial pesticides in a June 13 referendum which backers of the initiative hope will trigger similar prohibitions elsewhere. Globally, only Bhutan has a complete ban on synthetic pesticides, according to supporters aiming to outlaw the use of products made by agro-chemical giants such as Switzerland's Syngenta and Germany's Bayer and BASF. Supporters of the ban say the artificial products cause serious health problems and reduce biodiversity. Manufacturers say their pesticides are rigorously tested and regulated, can be used safely and crop yields would slump without them.