The government issues a warning about fake weight-loss products; one more canton to decide on voting rights for foreigners; and more Swiss news in our Wednesday roundup.
Government drug agency alerts against falsified weight loss products bearing its logo
The drug regulatory agency, Swissmedic, has issued a warning on Tuesday about the increasing number of falsified, misleading, or unauthorised weight loss products currently on the Swiss market, which make reference to GLP-1 active substances.
“Such preparations may contain untested, undeclared or harmful substances, and may also be of insufficient quality or contain the incorrect dosage,” Swissmedic said.
“The use of these products carries significant health risks.”
Furthermore, some of these preparations make fraudulent use of the Swissmedic logo or carry invented quality marks with the aim of deliberately deceiving consumers.
Fake Swissmedic logo
One more canton to decide on voting rights for foreigners
The voters in Appenzell Ausserrhoden will decide in November on a cantonal voting right for longtime foreign residents.
If approved, Appenzell Ausserrhoden would become the first German-speaking canton to introduce such voting and election rights at the cantonal level.
So far, only the cantons of Jura and Neuchâtel have granted their foreign residents this right.
At the municipal level, however, non-Swiss are entitled to vote in Neuchâtel, Jura, Vaud, Fribourg, and Geneva.
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Swiss prefer to work longer than accept cuts in their pension benefits
When asked whether the retirement age should be raised or benefits reduced to secure financial security for the pension scheme, 61 percent of respondents favoured raising the retirement age.
Support was highest among men (74 percent) and those aged 45 to 65 (68 percent).
This is the finding of a survey published on Tuesday, which was conducted on behalf of the health insurer Groupe Mutuel and the Geneva newspaper Le Temps.
Overall, trust in the Swiss pension system remains high — more so in the second pillar occupational pension scheme than in the first pillar AHV/AVS,
Meanwhile, the third pillar is the clear winner when it comes to strengthening one’s retirement provision.
READ ALSO: Why (future) Swiss pensioners must prepare for less money in old age
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Travel news: Mont-Blanc tunnel to close on September 1st
The tunnel between France and Italy, often used by Swiss drivers heading south, will close to all traffic from September 1st to December 12th for renovation.
Instead, you can take alternative routes via Swiss Alpine passes, such as the Great St Bernard.
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