Modernization of Swiss chemicals legislation
The Federal Council recently decided to initiate a modernization of Swiss chemicals legislation. The aim of the further development of chemicals legislation is to further increase protection against chemicals for humans and the environment in Switzerland, taking into account new scientific findings and international regulation, according to the statement. New trade barriers are to be avoided as far as possible and scientific and technical cooperation in the chemicals sector with foreign and international authorities is to be expanded.
Chemicals are an important part of modern life and contribute to Switzerland's economic development. However, humans and the environment must be protected from hazardous chemicals. In order to ensure the high level of protection in Switzerland in the long term and at the same time to take account of international developments - including those in the European Union (EU) - in the assessment and regulation of chemicals, the Federal Council is taking charge of a targeted adaptation of Swiss chemicals legislation.
The planned further development of Swiss chemicals legislation aims to further improve the authorities' knowledge of chemical substances on the Swiss market. In particular, the Federal Council wants to avoid chemical substances being placed on the market in Switzerland without the data required to assess their health and environmental risks being available. In addition, existing information gaps are to be closed thanks to a reporting obligation for hazardous intermediates. This will enable emergency services, for example, to access this data quickly and provide emergency information. The authorities should also be able to request further data for clarification on individual risky substances.
The Federal Council has instructed the relevant departments to draw up the necessary amendments at ordinance level and submit them to it by the end of 2017. This is to be done with the early involvement of interested parties in order to ensure a balanced, practice-oriented further development of chemicals legislation.
At the same time, the Federal Council has decided to examine possibilities for cooperation to intensify scientific and technical cooperation with international authorities or with authorities of individual countries. The focus here is on cooperation in the assessment of chemical substances and an exchange of knowledge with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Following the consultation of stakeholders, however, the initiation of negotiations on a bilateral market access agreement in the chemicals sector with the EU is not to be actively pursued at the present time.
Press release DFA/EDI
