Soil and Biotechnology Division

The division is responsible for the protection of our soils, for the remediation of contaminated sites and for biotechnology and genetic engineering

The division:

• deals with the protection of the soil against chemical, physical and biological damage such as erosion and compacting;
• surveys the status of the soil through the "National Soil Monitoring Network" (NABO);
• assists the cantons in the implementation of the Soil Pollution Ordinance;
• harmonizes and assists the Cantons in enforcing the Contaminated Sites Ordinance (CSO);
• enforces the Ordinance on the Charge for the Remediation of Polluted Sites in the area of subsidies and evaluates subsidy applications of the cantons;
• is responsible for elaborating and implementing the provisions on the handling of pathogenic, alien and genetically modified organisms in the environment (Release Ordinance) and in contained systems (Containment Ordinance);
• coordinates international activities in the area of biosafety with regard to the environment, in particular the Convention on Biological Diversity; it is also responsible for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in the area of genetic resources (Nagoya Protocol) and biosafety (Cartagena Protocol).

The division is responsible for the topics:

Topic Soil

Topic Contaminated sites

Topic Biotechnology

Management:

Bettina Hitzfeld
Position: head of division

Christiane Wermeille
Position: head of section Contaminated sites, deputy head of division

Gudrun Schwilch
Position: head of section Soil

Anne-Gabrielle Wust Saucy
Position: head of section Biotechnology

Last modification 13.01.2023