ABSTRACT
The first criticisms of productivist agricultural policies in Switzerland emerged in the 1970s – much earlier than in most European Union (EU) Member States. The analysis of the Swiss agri-environmental programme has highlighted that the Swiss approach to countryside protection has been very similar to that of its EU neighbours. Although the voluntary principle plays an important role with regard to certain agri-environmental schemes in Switzerland, many environmentally harmful farming practices are regulated by law rather than through voluntary participation in agri-environmental schemes. Since 1993, new agricultural policies have influenced farming practices through the introduction of production subsidies with environmental prescriptions, and by offering voluntary agri-environmental schemes. Swiss agri-environmental policy has mirrored the differing severity of environmental problems caused by agriculture. Great emphasis has been placed on water protection regulations in order to reduce nitrate levels in drinking water. The federal Water Protection Act 1991 contains several legally binding prescriptions concerning water pollution on farms.
