{"id":9794,"date":"2025-07-21T08:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/?p=9794"},"modified":"2025-07-23T14:15:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T11:15:12","slug":"switzerland-updates-fcm-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-updates-fcm-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Switzerland Updates FCM Rules: BPA &#038; Hazardous Bisphenols"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Switzerland is strengthening its chemical safety rules for food contact materials (FCMs) and articles to match stricter European Union standards. On June 2, 2025, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) issued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fedlex.admin.ch\/eli\/oc\/2025\/395\/fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">RO 2025 395<\/a> to amend the nation\u2019s Food Contact Materials Ordinance (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fedlex.admin.ch\/eli\/cc\/2017\/164\/fr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">RS\/SR 817.023.21<\/a>). The updated measures took effect on July 1, 2025.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-updates-fcm-rules\/#Switzerland_Aligns_with_EU_Standards\" >Switzerland Aligns with EU Standards<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-updates-fcm-rules\/#Stricter_Limits_on_Bisphenol_A_and_Similar_Chemicals\" >Stricter Limits on Bisphenol A and Similar Chemicals<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-updates-fcm-rules\/#Changes_to_Approved_Substance_Lists\" >Changes to Approved Substance Lists<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-updates-fcm-rules\/#New_Transitional_Periods_and_Documentation_Rules\" >New Transitional Periods and Documentation Rules<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-updates-fcm-rules\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Switzerland_Aligns_with_EU_Standards\"><\/span><strong>Switzerland Aligns with EU Standards<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Switzerland\u2019s regulatory trend of aligning its food packaging and material safety framework with the EU continues, following previous steps discussed in related updates, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/switzerland-regulations-food-contact-plastics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Switzerland\u2019s regulations on food contact plastics<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/swiss-ordinance-amendments-on-food-contact-materials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">previous amendments on food contact materials<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stricter_Limits_on_Bisphenol_A_and_Similar_Chemicals\"><\/span><strong>Stricter Limits on Bisphenol A and Similar Chemicals<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Key focus of the amendment is <strong>bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives<\/strong>. According to the new ordinance:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>By way of derogation from section 2.1, BPA may be used as a monomer or starting substance in the manufacture of liquid epoxy resins for application to self-supporting materials or objects with a capacity <strong>exceeding<\/strong> <strong>1000 litres<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Migration into foodstuffs <strong>must not be detectable<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The detection limit is set at <strong>1 \u00b5g\/kg <\/strong>in food contact. Finished objects coming into contact with <strong>foodstuffs must be cleaned and<\/strong> <strong>rinsed<\/strong> before being brought into contact with foodstuffs for the first time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Extractable BPA must not be detected (ND)<\/strong> at or above a <strong>detection limit of 1 \u00b5g\/kg<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>BPA is now banned entirely in varnishes and coatings for FCMs and articles<\/strong>, except when used as a monomer or starting substance in liquid epoxy resins for large-capacity containers over 1,000 liters.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0<strong>\u2018Hazardous bisphenols\u2019 <\/strong>are defined as those classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction (CMR) Category 1A or 1B, or endocrine disruptors for human health (ED HH) Category 1. Also, similar prohibitions as the previous are included for \u2018hazardous bisphenols\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-9790\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"FCM Rules - Switcherland\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Changes_to_Approved_Substance_Lists\"><\/span><strong>Changes to Approved Substance Lists<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ordinance also updates Switzerland\u2019s <strong>\u2018positive lists\u2019<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>BPA stays permitted for specific uses like <strong>polysulfone filtration membranes<\/strong> but under the tight new <strong>migration<\/strong> <strong>limits<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Certain substances have been added, revised, or deleted from the permitted lists for plastics and packaging inks. For example, <strong>tris(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylate <\/strong>is now allowed, while <strong>untreated wood flour <\/strong>and specific <strong>mixed esters<\/strong> have been removed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"New_Transitional_Periods_and_Documentation_Rules\"><\/span><strong>New Transitional Periods and Documentation Rules<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manufacturers and importers get some time to <strong>adapt<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>BPA-based repeat-use FCMs compliant <strong>before July 1, 2025<\/strong>, can stay on the market under transitional deadlines extending to <strong>January 20, 2029,<\/strong> for some products.<\/li>\n<li>Updated rules for the <strong>Declaration of Conformity (DoC)<\/strong> require detailed disclosure of any bisphenols or derivatives used.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Switzerland\u2019s latest amendment brings its food packaging safety rules closer to the EU\u2019s rigorous standards, and especially on BPA and related chemicals. Businesses handling FCMs and articles should review the new requirements now, adapt manufacturing processes where needed, and update documentation to ensure compliance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Switzerland is strengthening its chemical safety rules for food contact materials (FCMs) and articles to match stricter European Union standards. On June 2, 2025, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) issued RO 2025 395 to amend the nation\u2019s Food Contact Materials Ordinance (RS\/SR 817.023.21). The updated measures took effect on July 1, 2025.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,545,540],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","category-packaging-legislation-en","category-regulations-policy-en","category-28","category-545","category-540","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9794"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9795,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9794\/revisions\/9795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}