04/06/2008
IFCS Indicators of Progress
Priorities for Action beyond 2000
and
Forum Recommendations
QUESTIONNAIRE
Please provide the information described on the following pages concerning your country,
giving the current status and, to the extent possible, that foreseen at the end of 2007
Please complete:
COUNTRY: Switzerland
1.
NATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND CAPACITIES FOR CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT
Priorities for Action E1 and E21
1a)
Has a comprehensive National Chemicals Management Profile, or other
equivalent strategic national plan, been developed
through a multi-stakeholder process2?
National Profile
Yes X
Other equivalent strategic national plan
No
Yes
No
If "Yes" to either of the above, please indicate the original publication date and
the date(s) of any revisions.
_Original Edition: 2000; no revision so far ____________________
If "Yes" to either of the above, please list all ministries, agencies and
organizations that participated:
Federal Office for the Environment; Federal Office of Public Health; Federal
Statistics Office; Federal Office of Agriculture; Swiss Society of Chemical
Industries
If "No", is your country in the process of developing or planning on developing a
Comprehensive National Chemicals Management Profile?
Yes
E xpected completion date ___________
No
If "No", have equivalent measures such as a government investigation on
chemical safety followed by legislative measures been undertaken?
Yes
No
If "Yes", please describe:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
1
The Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 may be viewed on the IFCS website at www.ifcs.ch.
A multi-stakeholder process is a process involving all concerned national ministries and other government
institutions, as well as other interested national parties.
2
1
1b)
Has your country developed any of the following on the sound management of
chemicals?
If yes, please
provide year
completed.
2005
PARCHEM
2005
PARCHEM
National Policies
National Priorities
National Strategies
No
2007 Position of Switzerland
about REACH and GHS
2007 Action plan on
nanomaterials
National Action Plans
1c)
If development is in progress,
please provide the expected
completion year?
Has your country established an inter-ministerial/intersectoral coordinating
mechanism (e.g. committee or body) to facilitate the comprehensive treatment of
chemical safety issues?
Yes X
No
If "Yes":
What is the name of the "mechanism"?
Inter-ministerial working group on REACH
When was it established? 2006
2.
CLASSIFICATION AND LABELLING OF CHEMICALS
Priority for Action B1
2a)
Has your country initiated work to adopt and implement the Globally
Harmonized System for Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)?
Yes
X
No
If "Yes", what is the expected date (year) GHS will be fully operational?
A proposal to introduce GHS in Switzerland is in preparation and will be executed
in two steps:
2008: Acceptance of GHS labelled chemicals and preparations;
2010: Introduction of the same GHS legislation as the EU
_________________________________________________________
2b)
Has your country ratified and implemented ILO Convention 170 on
Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work3, or instituted comparable measures?
Yes
No X
3
ILO Convention 170 may be viewed on the ILO website at:
http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm
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3.
NATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR E XCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS
Priority for Action C1
3a)
What arrangements are operational in your country for the exchange of
information on hazardous chemicals? Please describe.
Product register
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) maintains a product register
containing some information, e.g. notified hazardous substances, preparations
containing hazardous substances and biocidal products. The Swiss poison center
in Zurich has full access to the composition of products. Other federal and
cantonal offices have limited access.
Link: http://www.cheminfo.ch
Information system for dangerous and ecologically relevant substances
http://igs.naz.ch/en/inde X.html
The "IGS-Check" is the common data bank for the Swiss public offices. It is
available in German, French, Italian and English. Currently it contains appro
Ximately 700'000 single information on over 20'000 different substances and
the public information of the FOPH's product register.
The "IGS-Toxic substances list" is the internet version of the lists of the
FOPH. It is fully accessible and contains e xclusively data from the toxic
substances list of the FOPH.
"The IGS substances and goods list" is an application containing data
relevant to the prevention of fires. The data is managed by the Swiss Institute
of safety and security and the application itself is available to the public on
the Internet.
Please indicate if the established infrastructure includes:
1) website where national partners can gain access to chemical
information sources,
Yes X
No
2) institutional directory listing sources of information
Yes X
4.
No
NATIONAL PROCEDURES ON SAFETY INFORMATION FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN
CIRCULATION
Priority for Action C3
4a)
Does your country have procedures in place to ensure that any hazardous
material put into circulation is accompanied, at a minimum, by appropriate and
reliable safety information that is easy to access, read and understand?
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Yes X
No
If "Yes":
Are the procedures consistent with the safety data sheets of the 1990 International
Labour Organization Chemicals Convention (No.170)?
Yes X
No
Do they conform to the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and
Labelling Of Chemicals?
Yes
5.
X
No
ECOLOGICALLY SOUND AND INTEGRATED STRATEGIES FOR PEST MANAGEMENT
Priority for Action D1
5a)
Has your country prepared integrated pest management strategies?
Yes X
No
If "Yes", were national studies done to develop the strategies?
Yes X
6.
No
OBSOLETE STOCKS OF PESTICIDES AND OTHER CHEMICALS
Priority for Action D2
6a)
Are there any obsolete stocks of pesticides and/or other chemicals in your
country?
Yes
No
x
6b)
Has your country prepared an action plan for disposal of obsolete stocks
of pesticides and other chemicals?
Yes
No X
If "Yes", has the action plan been implemented?
Yes
No
If "Yes", has the action plan been completed?
Yes
No
If "No", is work in progress to prepare an action plan?
Yes
If yes, what is the e Xpected completion date (year)? ___________
No
If no, why not? _Because there are no obsolete stocks of pesticides in our
country
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Remark: Switzerland supports international projects within SAICM, Stockholm
and Basel Convention, and UNITAR. Switzerland has several state-of-the-art
hazardous waste incinerators and accepted wastes from other countries for
treatment, such as pesticides from Myanmar and Nepal.
7.
NATIONAL SYSTEMS FOR PREVENTION OF MAJOR INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
Priority for Action D4
7a)
Has your country implemented a national system for emergency preparedness and
response, in accordance with international principles4?
Yes X
No
Alerting and informing
A National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) is established which runs an
information system for dangerous and ecologically relevant substances IGS. It can
be accessed via internet (http://igs.naz.ch/en/index.html) and is reachable 365
days of the year, 24 hours a day. In case of chemical accidents, the NEOC
provides the Swiss cantons with guidance, information or coordination to bring a
situation under control. Data are exchanged by all offices involved.
In an emergency case, the poison centre will also provide information as
appropriate, from the database IndatoxPlus. This was agreed by the Federal
Department of Defence, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and
the poison centre.
If "No", is work in progress to implement the system?
Yes
7b)
expected completion date (year)? _______________ No
Is there a national law requiring the system?
Yes X
No
7c)
Has your country ratified and implemented ILO Convention 1745 on
Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents?
Yes
No X
If "No", are efforts under way to do so?
Yes
No X
4
Ref. OECD Second Edition 2003 Guiding Principles for Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and
Response, undertaken in cooperation with other international organizations, including ILO, IMO, UNECE,
UNEP, UNOCHA (UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit) and WHO.
5
ILO Convention 170 may be viewed on the ILO website at:
http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm
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Remark: Switzerland has ratified and implemented the UNECE Convention on
the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents
8.
INTERNATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF PESTICIDES
8a)
Has your government implement the revised International Code of Conduct on the
Distribution and Use of Pesticides (November 2002)6 as the basis for a
comprehensive life cycle approach to pesticide management?
Yes X
No
If "No", are efforts under way to do so?
Yes
8b)
No
Have the provisions of the Code of Conduct been implemented through other
pieces of legislation or by other means?
Yes X
No
If "Yes", please briefly describe.
Ordinance on the plant protection products (SR 916.161)
link: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c916_161.html
Remark: Switzerland has developed a National Action Plan regarding best
agricultural practice on the basis of an integrated approach. The measures and instruments
are supported by laws and ordinances. Incentive measures are used to reward farmers who
apply production methods which are particularly respectful of the environment. Direct
payments are a key element of agro-environmental programmes (integrated production
and biological farming), others are extensification measures and programmes on
ecological compensation. Plant protection products (PPPs) have to been approved before
they are supplied on the Swiss market. Within the framework of the registration process,
re-evaluation is a common practice. The use of PPPs in sensitive areas is restricted. The
use of pesticides is banned in and around surface water, in the catchments area of ground
water protection zones, in nature conservation areas, in fens, marshes, hedges and copses.
For aircraft applications a utilization permit is needed. Pesticides may only be used
professionally under the direction of a technical expert holding a technical permit.
Candidates have to pass an examination. Examinations taken in agricultural schools as
part of the professional education for farmers are recognized. The rules and prescriptions
of the Rotterdam PIC-Convention have been implemented in the Swiss legislation (Swiss
PIC-Ordinance)
9.
POISON CENTRES
Priority for Action D7
6
The International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides may be viewed at:
http://www.fao.org/AG/AGP/AGPP/Pesticid/
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9a)
Have poison centre(s) been established in your country?
Yes X
No
Link: http://www.toxi.ch/eng/welcome.html
If "Yes", please indicate classification level for each poison centre:
WHO Status of Development Classification
well-established centres, the full range of clinical analytical and other relevant facilities
A
and cover the whole country.
well-established centres, but lack some of the related facilities or do not provide full
B
coverage to the country. These centres require further development in order to meet
the ideal criteria for centres given in the IPCS Guidelines
certain facilities for poison control, but require major support to develop further areas
C
of activities, according to the criteria in the IPCS Guidelines, and should e Xpand
coverage through the country.
Centre (Name &
location)
Date
Established
Classification initial
Classification 2000
Classification current
Swiss Toxicological Information
Centre
CH-8032 Zurich
1966
A
B
A
9b)
Is strengthening of poison centers planned?
NO
By its continuous collaboration with the University of Zuerich and the University
Hospital of Zuerich, the STIC has access to full analytical and clinical facilities.
If "Yes", for what time period?
9c)
If there are no established poison centres in your country, is work under way in
your country to establish a poison control centre with related chemical and
analytical facilities for the first time?
Yes
No
If "Yes" when do you expect the poison control centre to be operational? Please
provide location and date (year).
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________________________________________________________
10.
POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTERS/EMISSION INVENTORIES
Priority for Action D8
10a)
Has your country established:
An air emission inventory?
Yes X
No
Remark: The Swiss air emission inventory is a database where annual loads of
the most important air pollutants from different sources are collected. It is the
basis for national air pollution politics and for international reporting
responsibilities.
A land emission inventory?
Yes
No X
A water emission inventory?
Yes X
No
Remark: Inventories exist on the emissions/inputs of nutrients and hazardous
substances into the waters in the catchments of great rivers, e.g. Rhine. These
inventories have been established in the framework of Switzerland’s work in
international commissions like the Int. Commission for the Protection of the
Rhine River or the OSPAR-Commission for the protection of the marine
environment of the North East Atlantic.
A waste inventory?
Yes X
No
Remark: The ordinance on the traffic of wastes (VeVA, SR 814.610) came into
force on 1.January 2006. Through the new ordinance the administration of waste
traffic has been simplified and the transport of hazardous wastes has been
regulated more strictly.
A Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR)?
Yes X
No
Remark: On 15 December 2006 the Swiss Government passed the ordinance on
the Register relating to Pollutant Release and the Transfer of Waste and of
Pollutants in Waste Water (PRTR –V, SR 814.017). The register was enacted on 1
March 2007. The ordinance includes the same list of pollutants as the UNECE
Protocol on PRTR. Their release has to be registered annually by the concerned
companies by 1 July. The first reported data are emission data from 2007.
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If "No", is work being initiated to design a PRTR or emission inventory
system?
Yes
No
10 b) Has your country implemented a system comparable to the PRTR (e.g. the
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)?
Yes
11.
No
PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL TRAFFIC IN TOXIC & DANGEROUS PRODUCTS
Priority for Action F
11a)
Has your country developed a national strategy, or other national measures (e.g.
legislation, action plans) for the prevention of illegal traffic in toxic and
dangerous products?
Yes X
No
If "Yes", when was it prepared? Please indicate date (year)
1969 Law and Ordinance of toxic chemicals.
1983 Environmental Protection Law (SR 814.01)
2005 PIC Ordinance
2006 Ordinance on the Traffic of Wastes (VeVA, SR 814.610)
12.
Children and Chemical Safety (Forum IV Recommendation)
12a)
Has your government prepared, through multi-stakeholder consultation,
initial national assessments of children’s environmental health and
chemical safety?
Yes
No
X
If "No", are efforts under way to do so?
Yes
12b)
No X
Has your government taken action to promote harmonized data collection,
research, legislation and regulations, and the use of indicators of children’s
environmental health?
Yes X
No
If "Yes", please briefly describe:
Legislation and regulations:
The 2002 Ordinance on the Safety of Toys (SR 817.044.1), which broadly
corresponds to the EEC directives, establishes the requirements with which toys
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must comply, including limits on the liberation of chemical substances. The
presence of certain phthalates in toys and articles destined for young children has
been limited since January 2007 (the articles may not contain more than 0.1% of
the phthalic esters DEHP, DBP or BBP). In addition, articles intended for young
children or toys that could be placed in the mouth by toddlers and children may
not contain more than 0.1% of DINP, DIDP or DNOP (SR 817.044.1 and SR
817.023.41). These articles could still be manufactured and imported under the
previous legislation until 16 January 2007, and may be sold to consumers until 31
March 2008.
The Ordinance on Protection against Dangerous Substances and Preparations
(Chemicals Ordinance, SR 813.11) regulates, among other things, the
classification, labelling and marketing of chemical products. Substances and
preparations classified as very toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to
reproduction must not be supplied to the general public. Particularly toxic
substances and preparations may be supplied only to persons sui juris and are
therefore not available for children. In addition, the packaging of certain
substances and preparations must be equipped with a childproof safety seal, in
accordance with the EEC regulations. Furthermore, there are bans and restrictions
on use of specific substances (SR 814.81), largely harmonised with European
legislation.
If "No", are efforts under way to do so?
Yes
No
13. HAZARD DATA GENERATION (Forum IV Recommendation)
13a)
Has your government established national priorities for information
generation for chemicals that are not produced in high volumes?
Yes X
No
Remark: Within the framework of OECD HPVC Programme.
If "No", are efforts under way to do so?
Yes
No
Other Forum IV Recommendations address:
Please provide brief information on specific actions your government has taken to
respond to the recommendations of Forum IV in these areas:
Occupational Safety and Health;
Acutely Toxic Pesticides – risk management and reduction;
Capacity building;
INFOCAP (Information Exchange Network on Capacity Building for the Sound
Management of Chemicals ) implementation.
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Details of person completing the questionnaire:
IFCS National Focal Point:
Yes X
No
Karlaganis Georg
Name:
Prof. Dr.
Title:
Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and
Ministry Communications
Federal Office for the Environment, Substances, Soil and Biotechnology
Address Division
3003 Bern
Switzerland
+41 31 322 69 55 / +41 79 415 99 62
Tel:
+41 31 324 79 78
Fa X:
Date:
04 June 2008
Georg.karlaganis@bafu.admin.ch
Email:
Signature:
Please provide the following additional information:
Does the IFCS National Focal Point have direct access to the Internet in his/her office?
Yes
x
No
If "No", does he/she have access to the Internet in the building where he/she works?
Yes
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