Switzerland RoHS, REACH, POP, and Other Requirements

The Swiss economy is interrelated with its European neighbors. Despite being out of the European Union (EU), Switzerland tends to harmonize its product environmental regulations with the rest of Europe. Let’s summarize some of the RoHS, REACH, POP Switzerland regulations, and other requirements.

Switzerland RoHS

Across the world, RoHS regulations restrict hazardous substances in electric and electronic equipment. EU RoHS is the first RoHS directive.

Annex 2.18 of the Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) aligns with the restrictions of the EU RoHS. Exemptions apply.

Switzerland REACH

The REACH regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals No 1907/2006 manages chemicals in the EU.

The Swiss ORRChem’s article 814.81 and annex 1.17 and Chemicals Ordinance Annex 3 (ChemO) mimic the EU REACH regulation.

For example, ChemO directly refers to the EU Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).

Consumers must know what SVHCs present in articles at or above 0.1% by weight at the article (component) level.

Switzerland POP

Similar to REACH, article 814.81 of the ORRChem ordinance addresses Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Annex 1. In the EU, regulation 2019/1021 manages POP chemicals. Both EU and Switzerland POP restrict a list of POPs in products. Such a list contains brominated and chlorinated halocarbons.

Swiss PFAS Restrictions

Consequently, Switzerland banned the manufacture and use of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts, and PFHxS-related compounds, effective November 16, 2023. PFHxS are PFAS substances.

In March 2024, Switzerland issued an amendment (RO 2024/113) to add PFHxS, its salts, and related compounds to the list of substances for elimination under the nation’s POPs regulations.
The ban prohibits the manufacture, import, and placing on the market of PFHxS, its salts, and related compounds in Switzerland, with no derogations or exemptions allowed.
Before this ban, Switzerland had already restricted PFHxS and related compounds from October 2022, allowing products with concentrations below certain limits.

Other than Switzerland RoHS Product Environmental Obligations Applicable to Electronics

RoHS, REACH, and POP regulations control substances in products. Additionally, the following requirements may apply to electronic equipment.

In the EU, regulation 2019/1021 manages POP chemicals. Both EU and Switzerland POP restrict a list of POPs in products. Such a list contains brominated and chlorinated halocarbons.

Swiss Energy Efficiency Regulations

The following laws apply to energy efficiency in Switzerland:

The federal constitution energy policy (Bundesverfassung Energiepolitik);
The energy law (Energiegesetz EnG); and
the energy efficiency ordinance (Energieeffizienzverordnung, EnEV).

Energy efficiency requirements stem from these regulations. For example, electronic displays for sale in Switzerland must bear a label indicating the efficiency categories. The green color symbolizes the highest efficiency. In contrast, red represents the lowest efficiency.

Moreover, comparative labels with minimum energy performance apply. These requirements mirror the European Union ones under ESPR – Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (previously EU Directive 2009/125/EC ecodesign requirements for electrical-related products).

Switzerland WEEE

Directive 2012/19/EU manages the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in the EU. Importantly, it set rules for an extended producer’s responsibility (EPR). Therefore, in virtue of the EPR principle, manufacturers or importers must register to a national agency and declare products placed on the market via a compliance scheme.

Furthermore, recycling data apply to the product’s user guide.

In Switzerland, the WEEE counterpart is the ordinance on Take-Back, Collection, and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment No. 814.620 (Verordnung über die Rückgabe, die Rücknahme und die Entsorgung elektrischer und elektronischer Geräte VREG).

Switzerland RoHS, REACH, POP... Summary of the Swiss Requirements to Electronics

To sum up, here is a table about Switzerland’s environmental requirements applicable to electronic products.

Category of the Requirements	Swiss Regulations (examples)	European Union Correspondance
Ecodesign	Bundesverfassung Energiepolitik – Federal constitution energy policy EnG – Energy law (Energiegesetz) EnEV – Energy efficiency ordinance (Energieeffizienzverordnung)	Directive 2009/125/EC and directives that are specific to particular product categories.
Substances Control	ChemO – Annex 3 ORRChem- Article 814.81, Annexes 1.17 and 2.18	RoHS REACH-SVHC POP
Waste Management	VREG – Take-Back, Collection, and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment No. 814.620 (Verordnung über die Rückgabe, die Rücknahme und die Entsorgung elektrischer und elektronischer Geräte)	WEEE

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