The ban occurred amid an ongoing review of 100 substances, the agriculture office said.
New laboratory results had been provided by firms indicating the toxicity of certain chlorothalonil by-products.
The office said: “It is not possible to exclude that some chlorothalonil by-products do not have a long-term negative effect on health.”
The agriculture office supports the EU Commission’s assessment that chlorothalonil should be classified as a carcinogen. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chlorothalonil is especially toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Exposure to the agent can cause kidney and stomach damage, including tumours, in rodents. A ban on the substance will take effect in the European Union in 2020, following conclusions from the European Food Safety Authority that the agent could pose a health risk.
Drinking water risk
Swiss officials said it was important to “act quickly” to reduce the presence of chlorothalonil by-products in groundwater, as they may exist at levels above legal standards set for drinking water in Switzerland.
Last June drinking water in a village in canton Fribourg had to be cut after excessive amounts of chlorothalonil were discovered.
The Swiss authorities say the requirements for approval of plant protection products have been tightened in recent years. They say products that were eligible for approval 20 years ago are not necessarily the same today. The pesticide approval process in Switzerland is currently being reviewed by an external audit firm.
The government is taking measures against contaminated drinking water with its action plan to reduce pesticide pollution and the Agricultural Policy 22+, but critics say these do not go far enough. Two popular initiatives on drinking water are pending. Although the government has rejected these, voters are likely to have the final say next year.
More
More
Pesticide companies ‘seriously deficient’ on human rights, says UN toxics expert
This content was published on
The UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics believes pesticide companies and the Swiss government should do more to phase out hazardous chemicals.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Swiss parliament calls for further security cooperation with EU
This content was published on
The House of Representatives has called on the Swiss government to take a more proactive approach to European security policy.
Switzerland has no US-style fentanyl problem, says health minister
This content was published on
There is very little chance of a US-sized fentanyl epidemic in Switzerland, says health minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.
This content was published on
Two fish species recently discovered in Switzerland have been called fluvicola and ommata, following an appeal to the public for names.
Convicted ex-shipowner achieves partial success in Swiss court
This content was published on
The Federal Supreme Court orders lower court to reassess part of its verdict against former Swiss shipowner Hans-Jürg Grunder.
This content was published on
A Swiss moratorium on the genetic engineering of plants, which expires at the end of 2025, could be extended for five years.
SWISS airline achieves second-best profit in history
This content was published on
Revenues soared for Swiss International Air Lines in 2024, contributing to the second-largest profit in the company's history.
Pesticide companies ‘seriously deficient’ on human rights, says UN toxics expert
This content was published on
The UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics believes pesticide companies and the Swiss government should do more to phase out hazardous chemicals.
This content was published on
Swiss pesticide approval procedures are still far from transparent, fueling strong suspicions of collusion between the authorities and industry.
Pesticide residues found on 93% of organic Swiss farms
This content was published on
Most fields on organic farms in Switzerland are contaminated with pesticides, according to a study by the University of Neuchâtel.
This content was published on
A UN representative is demanding action following reports that Swiss crop science company Syngenta is selling highly hazardous pesticides abroad.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.