The Swiss have totally banned "biosolids" from agriculture and developed other policies to protect its soils!
Switzerland has completely banned the use of sewer sludge aka "biosolids" on agricultural soils.
They took this stand because of "the risk of irreversible damage to the soil, the danger to public health and possible negative effects on the quality of the food farmers produce." ... "the precautionary principle has absolute priority in soil protection."
"Soil is a limited, ecologically and economically valuable non-renewable resource. Along with water and air, it is essential for life."
"All human activities affecting the soil must always take into account that it is scarcely possible to generate new soil because soil formation takes a very long time. Soil is an inert medium that takes a long time to respond to exogenous influences, which means that problems are only recognised later and often too late. Soil is the final repository for pollutants, which means that chemical pollution is often irreversible. That is why only structurally intact soil can function properly."
"Precautionary measures must be taken to protect fertile soil - irrespective of its use - from physical, chemical and biological pressures."
"Like water, air, and forests, soil is a common good, which may be used but not destroyed by its owner. Anyone who uses the soil is also responsible for protecting it."
"Chemical soil contamination impairs soil fertility. It leads to defects in plant growth and causes health risks for humans and animals through the consumption of contaminated harvested products, polluted groundwater and direct contact with soil (e.g. by playing children)."
For more on the Swiss concepts of soil protection see - https://www.bafu.admin.ch/
For more on the original ban on biosolids see - https://www.admin.ch/gov/
"Precautionary measures must be taken to protect fertile soil - irrespective of its use - from physical, chemical and biological pressures."
"Like water, air, and forests, soil is a common good, which may be used but not destroyed by its owner. Anyone who uses the soil is also responsible for protecting it."
"Chemical soil contamination impairs soil fertility. It leads to defects in plant growth and causes health risks for humans and animals through the consumption of contaminated harvested products, polluted groundwater and direct contact with soil (e.g. by playing children)."
For more on the Swiss concepts of soil protection see - https://www.bafu.admin.ch/
For more on the original ban on biosolids see - https://www.admin.ch/gov/
