Swiss legislation: CE marking
If you want to export consumers or industrial products to Switzerland, you must comply with the
Swiss requirements concerning product safety.
A number of EU Directives contain basic requirements on product safety, health and
environmental protection. Manufacturers that comply with all relevant essential
requirements of the applicable EU Directives are required to affix the CE marking to their products.
What is CE marking?
The CE marking, an acronym for the French "Conformité
Européenne", is since 1993 a key indicator of a product’s compliance
with EU legislation (e.g. safety, health and environmental protection).
CE marking states that the product is assessed before being placed
on the market and guarantees the free movement of products within
the European Economic Area1.
Please note that the CBI does not provide information on product groups that fall outside the scope
of the CBI target sectors. For more information on the European requirements concerning CE
marking, refer to the related CBI document.
Swiss legislation
Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but a member of the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA). To facilitate free trade with the EU, Swiss legislation is adapted to EU
law in several areas. Switzerland has different requirements related to product safety and
unlike the EU, CE marking is not required in Switzerland.
First, products to be imported to Switzerland have to comply with the Swiss requirements regarding
product safety. The distributor (manufacturer or importer) is responsible for the safety of the
product. The requirements concerning product safety (of products to be imported into Switzerland)
are laid down in:

Federal Act on Product Safety SR 930.11 of 12 June 2009 (original title: Loi fédérale sur la

sécurité des produits).
Ordinance on the Marketing of Products Manufactured According to Foreign Requirements SR
946.513.8 of 19 May 2010 (original title: Ordonnance réglant la mise sur le marché de
produits fabriqués selon des prescriptions techniques étrangères et la surveillance du marché
de ceux-ci).
In principle, products that are authorised in Switzerland are described by product-specific
regulations. See the Swiss Technical Regulations Portal for a list of products and their related Swiss
regulations. In particular for metal components check the information available about Industrial
products.
Second, the EU and Switzerland signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement which provides for the
mutual recognition of the results of conformity assessments related to product safety. When
products covered by the agreement are conform to the technical requirements of the EU, they are
allowed to be exported to Switzerland. Moreover, products which are legally on the market in the EU
or EFTA but are not covered by the aforementioned agreement benefit from the "Cassis de Dijon"
principle (see box in the next page).
1 EEA: the 27 Member States of the EU and EFTA countries Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein.
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Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation,
consisting of 26 cantons, is not
a member of the European
Union but has special relations
with the EU that are framed by a
series of bilateral treaties. Being
a member of the European Free
Trade Association (EFTA), the
Swiss Confederation has
adopted various provisions of
EU law in order to participate in
the EU's single market.
Swiss legislation: CE marking
Cassis de Dijon Principle - trade relation with the EU
To improve the free movement of products between Switzerland and the EU the Cassis de Dijon
Principle applies to product imported to Switzerland. Therefore, products complying with EU
legislation and lawfully marketed there, may also be sold in Switzerland. This principle applies not
only to products produced in the EU but also to products produced in non-EU countries but
complying with EU legislation and marketed there. Although the Principle applies for several
products, there is a list of exceptions.
For more information on the Swiss legislation regarding product safety and the import of goods with
CE marking, contact the relevant authorities (see table below). For other products contact the State
Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Product groups by European Commission: Swiss authority:
1.
Construction products
Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics
(OFCL)
2.
Eco-design of energy related products
Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
3.
Electromagnetic compatibility
Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
4.
Equipment and protective systems
intended for use potentially explosive
atmospheres (ATEX)
Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
5.
Low Voltage Devices
Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
6.
Machinery
Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
7.
Measuring Instruments
Federal Office of Metrology (METAS)
8.
Medical devices
Active implantable medical devices
In vitro diagnostic medical devices
Swissmedic
9.
Non-automatic weighing instruments
Federal Office of Metrology (METAS)
10.
Personal protective equipment
Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
11.
Pressure equipment
Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
12.
Toys
Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)
13.
Simple pressure vessels
Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Related documents
Please find below an overview of other legislative and non-legislative requirements that are of
relevance. Some of the requirements are briefly highlighted in this document. More details
however, can be found in the CBI database under the following document titles:
Legislation:


Swiss legislation: Cassis de Dijon Principle and mutual recognition with the EU
EU legislation: FAQ on CE marking
Last updated: December 2012
This document was compiled for CBI by CREM B.V.
Disclaimer CBI market information tools: http://www.cbi.eu/disclaimer
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Swiss legislation: CE marking
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If you want to export industrial or consumer products to Switzerland, you must comply with the Swiss
requirements concerning product safety.
This document provides more information on the requirements concerning product safety and gives references
to relevant Swiss legislation and its relation with EU legislation.
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MA: Switzerland legislation
Switzerland
Uitvoerder: Flip
Cut flowers and foliage
Rosa, Dianthus, Orchids, Dendranthema, Gladiolus, flowers grown from bulbs and other fresh cut flowers
Summer flowers
Tropical flowers
Prepared cut flowers
Foliage
Fishery products
Fresh, chilled or frozen fish and fish fillets
Fresh, chilled or frozen crustaceans and cephalopods
Fresh, chilled or frozen molluscs
Prepared or preserved fish and fish fillets
Prepared or preserved crustaceans and cephalopods
Prepared or preserved molluscs
Food ingredients
Coffee
Tea
Cocoa (inc. Cocoa butter, oil and fat)
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Swiss legislation: CE marking
Edible nuts
Dried fruit and dried vegetables
Fruit juices and concentrates
Canned fruit and vegetables
Frozen fruit and vegetables
Jams, jellies, purees and marmelades
Honey and other bee products
Natural colours
Natural thickeners
Thickeners
Rice
Pulses
Spices
Herbs (dried)
Raw cane sugar
Refined sugar, fructose and molasses
Conventional oils - niche markets (palm, sunflower, cocos - focus on virgin, organic, fair trade)
Specialty oils (peanut, mais, sesame, sheabutter, mango butter, rich omega 3 oils)
Olive oil (focus on organic etc)
Oil seeds
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Tropical fruit
Off-season fruit
Exotic fruit
Tropical vegetables
Off-season vegetables
Natural ingredients for
cosmetics
Vegetable derived oils, fats and waxes
Essential oils and oleoresins
Vegetable saps and extracts
Raw plant material
Colouring matter
Natural ingredients for
pharmaceuticals
Medicinal and aromatic plants
Vegetable saps and extracts
Vegetable alkaloids
Timber
Timber (planks, boards, veneer)
Timber building materials (doors, flooring)
Timber Garden products (incl. garden furniture)
Consumer
Wine
Wine
Domestic furniture
Upholstered seating
Non-upholstered seating
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Swiss legislation: CE marking
Dining and living room furniture
Kitchen furniture
Bedroom furniture
Home office furniture
Other furniture
Furniture parts
Apparel
Bodywear
Knitted and woven clothing
Sports clothing
Leather clothing
Babies clothing
Home decoration
Candles
Woodware
Wickerwork
Artificial flowers & fruits
Ceramics
Glassware
Metalware
Plasticware
Paperware
Cutlery
Home and furnishing textiles
Household textiles
Furnishing textiles
Office and school supplies
Paper-based items
Filing and storage products
Writing and drawing instruments
Presentation and planning materials
Office and desk accessories
Greeting cards
Cases and satchels
Office furniture
Industrial
Automotive parts and
components
Parts, components and accessories for all kinds of common automotive vehicles
All kinds of machinery that is used in agriculture and horticulture
Parts for construction equipment
Parts for lifting and materials handling equipment
Pipes and process
equipment
Process instruments
Process equipment
Metal pipes and fittings
Plastic pipes and fittings
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Swiss legislation: CE marking
Pumps
Valves
Electronic components
Semiconductors
Embedded Systems
Sensors and Microsystems
Passive components
Electromechanical components and connector technology
Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS)
Displays
Power supplies
Assemblies and subsystems (including modules)
ED/EDA, testing and measurement
Energy Efficient Lighting (EEL) Products
Engineering products
Electric Drives
Moulds, magnets and elevators
(Parts) of Transmission
Hydraulics
Pneumatics
Tooling and workpiece holders
Medical & Laboratory
Devices
Medical disposables
Medical devices
Dental devices
Laboratory devices
Medical furniture
Medical apparel
Personal protective
equipment
Full body protection
Hand and arm protection
Foot and leg protection
Air purification
Descender devices
Head protection
Hearing protection
Eye protection
Paints & other coatings
Formulations dissolved in water
Formulations not dissolved in water
Pigments
Additives
Resins
Sanitary ware and ceramic
tiles
Sanitary ware
Ceramic tiles
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Swiss legislation: CE marking
Services
KPO
Call centres
Digitisation
Web services
Human Resources
Finance and accounting services
Research and Development
Procurement
Engineering services
Animation services
Architectural services
ITO services
Finance & banking
Healthcare
Wholesale & Retail
Government & Public sector
Telecom
Manufacturing
Tourism
Adventure travel
Wildlife travel
MICE
CBT
Cruises
Sun and beach holidays
Touring holidays
Cultural tourism
Spa and health tourism
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