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Published on 2 April 2024

Biocidal products

Biocidal products may be placed on the market, be used professionally and commercially only if they have been authorised, notified or recognised according to the Ordinance on Biocidal Products (OBP - SR 813.12). The responsibility for placing biocidal products on the market falls to the authorisation holder.

General information on biocidal products

Biocidal products are used to combat harmful organisms by killing or repelling them.

Biocidal active substances

In order that active substances may be used as or for biocidal products, they have to be «approved» or at least be notified for approval.

Authorisation procedure

The following subpages contain relevant information on the various authorisation procedures.

Questions on delimitation

Certain products are at the interface between two product categories and thus are always classified on a case-by-case basis and have to be reviewed as a whole (check on intended use and composition).

Treated articles

This guide (only available in German, French and Italian) is aimed at the cantonal enforcement authorities, businesses and users. It sets out the regulations on products treated with biocidal active substances.

Swiss specific authorisation provisions

Here you will find explanations of specific Swiss provisions concerning the authorisation of biocidal products. These are e.g. restrictions of certain uses that result from national regulations and therefore, based on Article 12 para. 2 Ordinance on Biocidal Product (Article 37 BPR), may deviate from the authorisation requirements that apply in other EU countries.

Declaration requirements for quantities of biocidal products placed on the market

The quantity of a biocidal product placed on the market in the previous year must be declared to the notification authority for chemicals via the product register for chemicals by 31 May of each year.