Since 1990 the use of wild flower seed has increased greatly in Switzerland mainly due to the new agricultural policy for ecological compensation. An inquiry carried out by the secretariat in 1992 showed that only a certain proportion of plant material on sale was of Swiss origin. Yet the introduction of non-native seed can lead to erosion of native genetic variation by crossing between native and introduced plants. In 1994, to call attention to this problem the Commission set up the "Recommendations for the production and use of seeds adapted to local ecological conditions"


These recommendations have been up-dated in 2001: in addition to lists of recommended species for different types of areas (ecological compensation areas like extensive meadows and sown weed strips, alpine ski runs and other areas) they give also lists of indesirable species and indicate useful contact addresses and publications. They have been published in 2002 in  German (Agrarforschung, 9(1), 3, 2002) and in French (Revue suisse d'agriculture, 34(1), 2002). The Italian text is available on Internet.