Published on 7 March 2023

Federal Coordination Centre for Biotechnology

The Federal Coordination Centre for Biotechnology is the entry and exit point for all notifications and licence applications under the Ordinance on the Contained Use of Organisms (ContainO) and the Ordinance on Occupational Safety in Biotechnology (OOSB).

The ContainO affects any companies, public or private organisations that carry out activities involving the contained use of genetically modified organisms, alien organisms subject to compulsory containment or pathogenic organisms.

Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
Federal Coordination Centre for Biotechnology
3003 Bern
Tel. [phone]
[e-mail]

• ECOGEN client portal
  You can use the Ecogen client portal to submit notifications and licence applications in accordance with the Containment Ordinance (CO) and the Ordinance on Occupational Safety in Biotechnology (OOSB).

• ECOGEN: Public register
  The register contains the list of notifications and authorizations for activities involving pathogenic or genetically modified organisms in contained use.

For technical questions on activities with organisms, which primarily involves a risk to humans:
Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH): [e-mail]

• Federal Office of Public Health FOPH: Biosafety

For all other technical questions concerning activities with organisms:
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN): [e-mail]