Switzerland Notifies WTO of Amendments to Chemical Safety Regulations

On 14 April 2025, Switzerland notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of two proposed amendments to its chemical safety regulations. These amendments aim to enhance public health protection by restricting the availability of certain hazardous substances to the general public and aligning Swiss regulations more closely with the European REACH and CLP frameworks.

Key Provisions of the Amendments

Restriction on CMR Substances for Consumer Use

The draft amendment to the Ordinance on the Reduction of Risks Related to the Use of Particularly Dangerous Substances, Preparations, and Articles (ORRChim) prohibits the supply of substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) to the general public. This applies to substances listed in Annex 1 to 6 of Annex XVII of the EU REACH Regulation, as well as mixtures containing these substances when their mass concentration exceeds the threshold defined in the EU CLP Regulation.

These substances may no longer be supplied to the general public in Switzerland after 31 August 2025.

Updates to Classification, Labelling and Testing Requirements

The amendment to the Ordinance on the Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations (OChim) updates Annexes 2 and 3 to reflect the latest EU regulations. This includes:

• Incorporation of the 22nd and 23rd Adaptations to Technical Progress (ATPs) under the EU CLP Regulation.

• Updated references to testing methods under Regulation (EC) No 440/2008, OECD Test Guidelines (as of June 2025), and the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, 8th revised edition with the 2025 amendment.

• Transitional periods allowing the continued supply of noncompliant substances until 30 April 2026 (for the 22nd ATP) and until a future date to be determined for the 23rd ATP.

Expanded Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern

Following developments at EU level, seven new entries are being added to Annex 3 of ChemO, Switzerland’s list of substances of very high concern (SVHCs). In addition, one existing entry is being updated. The revised list will contain 247 substances and groups of substances, effective 1 August 2025.

Effective Date

Both amended ordinances are scheduled to enter into force on 1 August 2025.

These changes reflect Switzerland's commitment to aligning its chemical safety regulations with the EU's REACH and CLP frameworks to enhance protection for the general public against particularly hazardous substances.

For more detailed information, you can access the full notifications here and here.