The Swiss Council of States has given its approval to a bill strengthening the provisions on the eligibility of enterprises for biofuel tax breaks. Biofuels may be partly or wholly exempt from mineral oil tax provided that they conform to certain ecological and social requirements. This is part of the provisions introduced to promote greener fuels.
There are however concerns that the use of crops such as sugar beet, sugar cane and soya to produce biofuel may endanger food security. Producers will now need to show that the cultivation of such crops for biofuel does not compromise food security and that the production of the crops conforms to current practices in respect of land rights and forest management.
