Swiss wine growers seek to limit European imports

Swiss vineyards are pushing for tighter limits on foreign wine as they struggle with falling consumption, foreign competition and questions over quality – a move that could unsettle EU producers, for whom Switzerland is a critical export market. Several producer groups and the Swiss farmers’ union want to restore a system tying an importer’s right to bring in foreign wine to the volume of Swiss wine it sells – similar to a regime that was in place until 2001. “Unlike many other agricultural products, we do not have effective border protection for wine,” the union said, adding that foreign bottles entered Switzerland at “very low” prices. “We have beautiful vineyards that we want to preserve. Everyone benefits from a strong Swiss wine industry.” Swiss wine growers are struggling with overproduction as consumption in the country has fallen almost 20% in two decades, while vineyard area has remained steady. + Swiss drink significantly less wine Among the EU’s most valuable wine export ...