G/AG/N/CHE/96  
3 October  2019 
(19-6406) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Agriculture  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 2 6 September 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland . The notification concerns new or modified domestic support measures 
exempt from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 
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This notification concerns changes in resource efficiency payments . There have been no major 
changes for any of the other payments notified in Table DS:2 of document G/AG/N/CHE/68 . 
However,  the application period of the measure s has been extended until the entry into force of the 
new agricultural policy, which is scheduled for January 2 022. 
  G/AG/N/CHE/96  
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  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: SWITZERLAND -LIECHTENSTEIN  
Notification under Article 18 .3 of the Agreement : New or modified domestic support measures 
exempt from reduction  
______________________________________________________________________________  
 
1) Full title of measure : Resource efficiency payments . 
Resource efficiency payments fall into seven categories:  
• payments for emission -reducing spreading techniques;  
• payments for soil -preserving cultivation techniques;  
• payments for the use of precise application techniques;  
• payments for the installation on sprayers of a cleaning system with a separate rinse 
water unit, for the cleaning of devices intended for spreading  phytosanitary products;  
• payments for two -phase low-nitrogen swine feeding;  
• payments for reducing phytosanitary products in fruit -farming, viticulture and sugar -
beet growing ; and 
• payments for reducing herbicides on open land.  
2) Domestic legislation reference:  
Articles 77 to 82 (g) of the Ordinance on Direct Payments in Agriculture (Ordinance on Direct 
Payments (OPD) ; RS: 910.13) of 2 3 October 2 013, which is based on the Law on Agriculture 
(LAgr ; RS: 910.1 ( 1 January 2 014)).  
 
3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria, i.e. those in:  
Resource efficiency payments encourage the sustainable use of the resources required for 
agricultural production, such as soil, air and water, and the efficient use of production in puts 
such as nitrogen, phosphorus, phytosanitary products and energy . This new instrument is vital 
in helping to ensure the widespread introduction of new techniques aimed at preserving 
resources.  
 
a) Payments for emission -reducing spreading techniques (Artic les 77 and 78 of the 
OPD)  
New spreading techniques are available to help reduce harmful emissions (such as 
ammonia) . The materials required for emission -reducing techniques are more costly than 
traditional materials, so support must be provided.  
 
b) Payments for soil -preserving cultivation techniques (Articles 79 to 81 of the  OPD)  
This measure seeks to ensure long -term soil fertility . Payments are made with a view to 
reducing soil compaction and protecting against erosion.  
 
c) Payments for the use of precise application techniques (Article 82 of  the OPD)  
Precise application ensures that phytosanitary products are sprayed in a very targeted 
manner and reduces the chance of them drifting outside the area being treated.  
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  d) Payments for the installation on s prayers of a cleaning system with a separate 
rinse water unit, for the cleaning of devices intended for spreading phytosanitary 
products (Article 82(a) of the OPD)  
These p ayments encourage farmers to equip themselves with an active rinse system for 
tanks a nd treatment bars with the aim of efficiently clean ing sprayers in the fields . This 
equipment is proven to substantially reduce the risk of point -source pollution.  
e) Payments for two -phase low-nitrogen swine feeding (Article 82(b )(c) of the OPD)  
By employing targeted two -phase feeding practices with adequate feed, it is possible to 
reduce nitrogen loss es in animal faeces, which reduces nitrogen input during the agricultural 
cycle and ammonia  losses . 
 
f) Payments for reducing phytosanitary products in fr uit-farming, viticulture and 
sugar beet growing (Article 82(d )(e) of the OPD)  
This measure seeks to reduce the use of phytosanitary products in crops where 
agri-environmental monitoring reveals  that large quantities of phytosanitary products are 
applied on a per unit area basis.  
 
g) Payments for reducing herbicides on open land (Article 82(f )(g) of the OPD)  
These payment s aim to encourage farmers to cease using herbicides on crops by promoting 
the use of alternative methods, namely mechanical weeding.  
 
Resource efficiency payments meet the general criteria set forth in paragraph 1 of  Annex  2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture : they are provided through a publicly -funded government programme 
that does n ot involve transfers from consumers, and do not have the effect of providing price support 
to producers.  
 
The payments also meet the specific criteria set forth in paragraph 12 of Annex 2 (Payments under 
environmental programmes).  
 
4) Cost of measure:  
Financial needs are estimated at CHF 53 million  for 2019, CHF 45 million  for 2020 and CHF 48 million  
for 2021.  
 
5) Date of entry into effect:  
01.01.2014 for:  
• payments for emission -reducing spreading techniques;  
• payments for soil -preserving cultivation techniq ues; and 
• payments for the use of precise application techniques.  
 
01.01.2018 for:  
• payments for two -phase  low-nitrogen swine  feeding ; and 
• payments for reducing phytosanitary products in fruit -farming, viticulture and sugar -beet 
growing.  
 
01.01.2019 for:  
• payments for reducing herbicides on open land.  
 
6) Application period:  
Until the implementation of a new agricultural policy, except for payments for emission -reducing 
spreading techniques, which will be terminated at the end of 2019.  
7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  
The support is not aimed at products, but at the efficient use of natural resources . The payments 
are not directly linked to products.  G/AG/N/CHE/96  
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  Comment : The Principality of Liechtenstein determines its  agricultural policy independently ; 
however, a large part of the measure described above is directly, or with minor differences, also 
applied by Liechtenstein . Liechtenstein does not have measures such as those defined in Articles 77, 
78, 81 and 82 of the Ordinance on Direct Payments in Agriculture (Ordinance on Direct Payments 
(OPD) ; RS: 910.13) of 2 3 October 2 013. 
 
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