Swiss GMO-Free Food Initiative Files Complaint Over Missing Signatures.

The association behind Switzerland’s GMO-free food initiative has announced plans to file a criminal complaint against unknown persons after claiming that at least 5,000 signatures went missing during an official recount process.

According to the Association for GMO-free Food, signatures that were previously validated by local municipalities were not found during a recount conducted by the Federal Chancellery. The group says it based its findings on a survey of around 240 municipalities and believes the actual number of missing signatures could be even higher.

The missing signatures are considered crucial for the initiative to reach the required threshold of 100,000 valid signatures needed to trigger a national vote. The association argues that if the disputed signatures were included, the initiative would likely have qualified for a popular referendum on extending control over genetically modified organisms beyond the current moratorium, which is set to expire in 2030.

Due to the narrow margin in the initial verification process, a recount of signatures was ordered at the end of March. Swiss authorities typically conduct additional checks when initiatives fall within a close range of 95,000 to 101,000 valid signatures to ensure accuracy and transparency.

The Federal Chancellery has stated that multiple departments were involved in the recount process as part of standard procedure. However, the GMO-free food association is demanding a full investigation to determine what happened to the missing signatures and to ensure public trust in the initiative system.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions around Switzerland’s direct democracy system, where citizen initiatives play a key role in shaping national policy. Authorities have not yet commented on the allegations in detail, and the case is expected to attract further legal and political attention.