The PIC Ordinance regulates the import and export of certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
The Ordinance on the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Chemicals in International Trade (ChemPICO) entered into force on 1 January 2005.
It regulates the import and export of certain hazardous chemicals, and implements the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade: PIC
The following requirements apply to exporters and importers of industrial chemicals and pesticides that are cited in PIC Ordinance:
1. Export: restriction and export notification
Persons intending to export substances that are subject to the PIC procedure, or preparations that contain such substances, must comply with the import decisions of the respective countries. These substances are listed in Annex 2 of the PIC Ordinance. The import decisions are found on the internet site of the Rotterdam Convention.
Any persons intending to export substances that are subject to the PIC procedure (Annex 2), and/or substances that are banned or subject to severe restrictions in Switzerland for reasons of protection of human health and the environment (Annex 1), or any preparations that contain such substances, are required to submit an export notification to the FOEN for their first export in each calendar year and for each importing Party, by not later than 30 days prior to the date of the first export. The applicable substances are listed in Annex 1 or Annex 2 of the PIC Ordinance. The following items are exempt from the export notification requirement:
- Substances and preparations for analysis and research, or for personal use by a single individual in quantities less than 10 kilograms.
- Preparations that contain one or more substances listed in Annex 1 or 2 in such a low concentration that the preparations is not classified as hazardous.
- Plant protection products and their active ingredients that are not subject to the PIC procedure. The export of these chemicals necessitates an authorization in accordance with Section 4.2 of Annex 2.5 of the Ordinance on the Reduction of Risks relating to the Use of Certain Particularly Dangerous Substances, Preparations and Articles (ORRChem).
- Pharmaceutical products, food and food additives, narcotics and psychotropic substances, radioactive material, waste material, chemical weapons.
Annex 1: PIC Ordinance (ChemPICO)
- Substances that are banned or subject to severe restrictions in Switzerland
Annex 2: PIC Ordinance (ChemPICO)
- Substances and severely hazardous pesticide formulations that are subject to the PIC procedure
The export notification procedure comprises the following steps:
- Exporters fill in the electronic form ‘Export notification under the PIC Ordinance’ and download the safety data sheet.
- The completed form must be submitted electronically to the FOEN by clicking on the ‘Send’ button no later than 30 days before the first export.
- The FOEN checks that the data is complete and finalises the export notification. It also verifies that the notified export of substances and preparations subject to the PIC procedure (Annex 2) is likely to comply with the decision of the importing Party.
- Within 15 days, the FOEN notifies the exporter by e-mail of the identification number of the export notification, which must be mentioned in the electronic customs declaration.
- The FOEN sends the export notification for substances listed in Annex 1, or their preparations, to the importing Party no later than 15 days before the date of the first export.
2. Import: restriction
Persons intending to import substances that are subject to the PIC procedure (Annex 2), or preparations that contain such substances, must comply with the import decisions of Switzerland. In the customs declaration it must be indicated that the chemical is subject to the PIC Ordinance. Additionally, it is highly recommended to indicate in the customs declaration the intended use of the chemical (cf. explanatory notes on customs declarations of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security FOCBS).
Most of the chemicals that are subject to the PIC procedure have specific first six digits of the eight-digit custom tariff numbers. The six digits are specific to the Rotterdam Convention and have been attributed by the World Customs Organization.
3. General obligations regarding the export of hazardous substances and preparations
The term “hazardous substances and preparations” refers to substances and preparations that meet the criteria for classification in terms of physical hazards to health, and environmental or other risks. The applicable criteria are listed in Annex 2, section 1, Chemicals Ordinance. Anyone who exports a hazardous substance or preparation is required to:
- Label the substance or preparation with at least the following information, taking account of the applicable international standards:
. Name of manufacturer
. Chemical name or brand name
. Description of risks for human beings and the environment, together with corresponding preventive measures - Provide each recipient with a safety data sheet containing the most recently available information.
4. Informations on export notifications
During the first trimester of each year, the FOEN publishes on this internet site relevant information extracted from received and sent export notifications of the previous year.
The information is broken down by chemicals and Parties. In some cases, in order to ensure the anonymity of companies and the confidentiality of certain data, the information is less structured: the chemicals are aggregated and/or the importing Parties are grouped according to regions. Regarding the exports to Switzerland, all received export notifications are from EEA States.
Received export notifications
Sent export notifications
Further information
Links
contains a list of all Parties to the Convention, participating states, PIC substances and decisions from importing countries. Updated every six months.
Last modification 17.01.2025
