Europe · Switzerland
What does it take to sell cosmetics in Switzerland? Entry route, responsibility, labeling
No pre-market notification or registration — products are placed on the market under the …; Responsible person: The manufacturer or importer domiciled in Switzerland who p…; Labeling: Labelling in at least one official language (Germ….
Latest change 2026-01-01 — Amendment RU 2025 824 (adopted 2025-12-09) applies the 1 ppm furocoumarin limit to the sum of eight marker furocoumarins in leave-on products with sun exposure from 2026-01-01 without transition period; ingredient annexes follow EU 1223/2009 by dynamic reference, currently updated through Regulation (EU) 2026/909. Source
Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.
- Authority
- Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO / BLV / OSAV) with cantonal enforcement authorities
- Main regulation
- SR 817.023.31 (Ordinance of 16 December 2016); LGV SR 817.02 Art. 54 · Ordinance of the FDHA on Cosmetics (VKos / OCos) under the Foodstuffs Act (LMG) and the Foodstuffs and Utility Articles Ordinance (LGV)
- In force
- 2017-05-01
- Market entry
- No pre-market notification or registration — products are placed on the market under the manufacturer's/importer's self-control (Selbstkontrolle) with cantonal market surveillance.
- Responsible person
- The manufacturer or importer domiciled in Switzerland who places the product on the market is the responsible person for compliance and self-control; no separate RP designation exists.
- Safety file
- A product information file with a safety assessment/safety report equivalent to the EU PIF/CPSR must be kept and shown to authorities on request.
- Labeling
- Labelling in at least one official language (German, French or Italian); INCI ingredient list; fragrance allergens per the EU Annex III entries (0.001% leave-on / 0.01% rinse-off) because Swiss law refers to the EU annexes; Swiss-domiciled responsible party on the label.
- Animal testing
- Animal testing of cosmetics/ingredients and marketing of animal-tested cosmetics are prohibited in line with the EU ban (LGV Art. 59).
- Ingredient lists
- Annexes II–VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 apply by reference (LGV Art. 54); Switzerland keeps only stricter national deviations such as the furocoumarin limit.
- Notes
- Fedlex text is not machine-readable; article numbers (LGV Art. 59 animal testing, language rule) should be checked; Swiss transitional dates for the 2023/1545 allergen expansion could not be verified.
- Official text
- https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2017/165/de
FAQ
Does Switzerland require notification or registration before sale?
No pre-market notification or registration — products are placed on the market under the manufacturer's/importer's self-control (Selbstkontrolle) with cantonal market surveillance.
Is a local responsible person mandatory in Switzerland?
The manufacturer or importer domiciled in Switzerland who places the product on the market is the responsible person for compliance and self-control; no separate RP designation exists.
What are the labeling requirements in Switzerland?
Labelling in at least one official language (German, French or Italian); INCI ingredient list; fragrance allergens per the EU Annex III entries (0.001% leave-on / 0.01% rinse-off) because Swiss law refers to the EU annexes; Swiss-domiciled responsible party on the label.
What changed recently in Switzerland cosmetic regulation?
2026-01-01 Amendment RU 2025 824 (adopted 2025-12-09) applies the 1 ppm furocoumarin limit to the sum of eight marker furocoumarins in leave-on products with sun exposure from 2026-01-01 without transition period; ingredient annexes follow EU 1223/2009 by dynamic reference, currently updated through Regulation (EU) 2026/909.
Related buyer questions
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