SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is advising stakeholders that Switzerland has begun implementing new provisions in its Ordinance on the Reduction of Risks Associated with the use of Particularly Dangerous Substances, Preparations and Articles (ORRChem).
On March 10, 2022, Switzerland issued Official Collection 2022 162 to revise ORRChem and created further alignment with the requirements in European Union (EU) Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (POP recast regulation) and Annex XVII of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 ‘Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (Annex XVII of REACH).
Among the changes are important updates to ORRChem’s Annex 1 ‘Provisions Concerning Specific Substances’ and Annex 2 ‘Provisions Concerning Specific Substances’. Amendments have been made to:
- Annex 1.1 ‘Persistent organic pollutants, POP’
- Annex 1.2 ’Halogenated organic substances’
- Annex 1.4 ‘Ozone depleting substances’, including
- Annex 1.5 ‘Substances stable in the atmosphere’
- Annex 1.6 ‘Asbestos’
- Annex 1.10 ‘Carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances (CMR substances)’
- Annex 2.9 ‘Plastics, their monomers and additives’
- Annex 2.10 ‘Refrigerants’
- Annex 2.11 ‘Extinguishing agents’
The provisions in Annex 1.16 ‘Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)’ have also been replaced in relation to:
- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), its salts and PFOS derivatives
- Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related substances
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances
- Perfluorocarboxylic acids containing 9 to 14 carbon atoms in the chain (C9-C14 PFCAs), their salts and C9-C14 PFCA-related substances
- Fluoroalkylsilanols and their derivatives
Stakeholders are advised to review SGS’s original SafeGuardS 041/22 to learn more about these changes. The SafeGuardS includes highlights of the amendments and a summary of the new provisions in Annex 1.16.
Stakeholders should be aware the regulations relating to PFHxS, its salts and PFHxS-related substances are currently under consideration in the Stockholm Convention and the European Union.
The provisions in Official Collection 2022 162 started being implemented on April 1, 2022, except for two requirements with later effective dates:
- October 1, 2022 – Annex 1.16 ‘PFAS’
- April 1, 2023 – amendments to the Plant Protection Products Ordinance of May 12, 2010
SGS Chemical Testing
SGS offers a comprehensive range of testing services to help manufacturers and suppliers ensure their products are safe and comply with national and international regulations concerning harmful chemicals. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS Chemical Testing Services.
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Switzerland Revises Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance SafeGuardS.
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For further information contact:
Dr. Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: (+852) 2774 7420
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
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