Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
This Sunday the clocks move forward one hour in Europe. We lose one hour of sleep then, but today we still have a full day of news to present.
Today’s highlights include perceived weaknesses of Swiss institutions: a code of conduct for signature collection has been criticised for its voluntary nature; Guy Parmelin says flexibility in civilian service is weakening the Swiss army; and Swiss authorities may have failed parents, according to a report on the lack of reporting obligations in cases of contaminated infant formula.
However, one topic remains strong – Switzerland’s attachment to Aromat, which might soon no longer be in Swiss hands.
In an attempt to combat fraudulent signature collection, the Swiss Federal Chancellery has launched a new voluntary code of conduct for referendum and initiative campaigns – a move that has been met with scepticism.
In 2024, reports of potentially forged signatures became more frequent, and an investigation by Tamedia newspapers revealed the scale of the problem. Yesterday, the Federal Chancellery presented a code of conduct aimed at initiative and referendum committees, organisations collecting signatures, political parties and interest groups.
While the code does not include demanded measures such as a ban on commercial signature collecting, it does specify that people collecting signatures should be paid by the hour rather than per signature.
Critics argue that the voluntary and non-binding nature of the code makes it a paper tiger. Organisations suspected of violations are unlikely to adhere to a non-binding framework, even if they were involved in drafting it, Tamedia newspapers write.
Since the forgery scandal emerged, the Federal Chancellery says it has not identified new cases. However, most petitions checked had been submitted for review voluntarily. The code is therefore no more than a half-hearted attempt to tackle a problem parliament did not want to address, writes Der Bund.
The Federal Chancellery, however, shifts responsibility to stakeholders, arguing that if committees apply the standards, the integrity of signature collection will improve.
The civilian service alternative to mandatory military service is currently too attractive, according to the Swiss government, which is now seeking to restrict access and reduce flexibility.
In 2025, there were a record 7,211 applicants for civilian service. Around one-third had already completed part of their military service. Supporters of stricter rules argue that transfers from the army to civilian service worsen personnel shortages. More than 60,000 people fit for military service are currently assigned to civilian service.
“One might think there is a free choice between the army and civilian service. It is not an alternative,” said Guy Parmelin, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency. Civilian service must remain “the exception to the rule”, he added.
Introduced in 1996 as a solution for conscientious objection, civilian service could now be tightened through six measures presented in Bern yesterday. These include increasing the number of service days, particularly for officers and non-commissioned officers, and reducing flexibility in scheduling assignments.
The reform also proposes banning civilian service placements requiring studies in human, dental or veterinary medicine, with the aim of making military service more attractive to doctors.
Farmers’ associations – traditionally supportive of the army – remain divided. While farmers and tradespeople show high military fitness rates, farms also benefit from civilian service workers. “Farms, especially in mountainous regions, benefit from civilian service workers who carry out tasks that would otherwise be impossible,” Swiss Farmers’ Union spokesperson Sandra Helfenstein told Watson. According to federal figures cited by the Aargauer Zeitung, civilian service workers completed 50,746 days of agricultural service last year.
Whether Swiss voters support the proposed changes to civilian service will be decided at the ballot box on June 14.
When it comes to contaminated baby formula, Switzerland is a “black box”: a lack of reporting obligations means infants affected by contaminated milk may have gone unnoticed.
Between December and February, infant formula from several brands was recalled due to contamination with the toxin cereulide, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and, in severe cases, life-threatening complications.
Although Nestlé issued recalls in 16 European countries, it initially told Swiss authorities that products distributed in Switzerland were unaffected. The first Swiss recalls only took place on January 5. Authorities also did not conduct their own checks on products, relying on information provided by the company.
Most concerningly for parents, Switzerland has no obligation to report illnesses linked to contaminated formula. A paediatrician treating an affected infant is therefore not required to notify authorities. The same applies to hospitals.
Swiss public broadcaster RTS reports that a hospital in canton Jura treated infants with diarrhoea after consuming potentially contaminated formula, but did not report the cases.
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office was aware of only 34 cases nationwide, 29 of which were reported by parents themselves. Only three cases came from healthcare professionals and two from cantonal authorities.
On February 15, Michael Beer, deputy director of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, promised an investigation. He stated in the press that if companies were slow to react or failed in their due diligence obligations, they would be subject to fines and criminal prosecution.
As a result, authorities may never know how many children were affected, and establishing manufacture responsibility may prove difficult.
Nothing is as controversial in my family as Aromat. My blood relatives love the golden seasoning, but those who have married into the Andrist family are less enthusiastic. One thing, however, is certain: Aromat is a uniquely Swiss product – at least for now.
Unilever, whose portfolio includes Aromat, plans to sell its food division. Among the potential buyers is US company McCormick & Company.
The possible implications were examined by 20 Minuten. Aromat is currently produced in Thayngen, canton Schaffhausen. Could new ownership lead to production moving abroad?
A short-term relocation appears unlikely, as “rapid changes would involve significant operational, regulatory and reputational risks”, said University of St. Gallen experts Xena Welch Guerra and Tomi Laamanen.
In the longer term, however, a sale to a company such as McCormick could increase pressure to consolidate production sites and supply chains, potentially affecting Switzerland.
Another option would be to sell Aromat as a standalone brand to a Swiss company. Experts told 20 Minuten, however, that this would be more complex and therefore unlikely.
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