Restrictions and interdictions

Some chemicals are so dangerous or inacceptably risky when used that they are subject to specific bans and restrictions.

Specific Restrictions and Bans

Specific bans or restrictions have been decreed in regard to placing on the market (e.g. in products) or to the use of certain substances or families of substances due to health and environmental risks associated with their use. These decrees can be found in the Annexes of the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem). An overview of these restrictions and bans can be found under:

Prohibition to supply to private individuals

Chemicals that are very toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction may not be supplied to private individuals. Only professional end users may acquire and use them. On supplying such chemicals the supplier has to comply with information obligations. More on this under:

Exclusion of self-service

Various particularly hazardous chemicals, namely toxic, corrosive, explosive and certain chemicals dangerous for the environment may not be supplied to the general public (private individuals) for their own use. On supplying such chemicals to private individuals the supplier has to comply with information obligations and must master the required technical expertise. More on this under:

Restrictions for use – special licences

Certain professional and commercial uses, such as for example pest control on behalf of third parties, the use of plant protection agents in agriculture and horticulture, the use of cooling agents or the disinfection of communal baths are only authorised for professionals, who have been granted the required special licences. More on this under:

Denaturation obligation of CBD-containing chemicals (fragrance oils)

The notification authority for chemicals has issued a general ruling (general ruling available only in German, French and Italian) on the denaturing of fragrance oils containing CBD. CBD-containing fragrance oils include all chemical products containing CBD that are placed on the market under the chemicals legislation. These must have a denaturant added as of 29 of March 2022 to prevent the fragrance oils from being ingested by mistake. Products already on the market may be sold until 30 of September 2022 at the latest.

Last modification 31.03.2022

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