Food law does not only protect public health from unsafe food, but regulates also the competition in the food markets by requirements on quality and the protection against misleading information.
In order to reduce trade barriers with the European Union Switzerland has tried to adapt the Swiss food law to the European law. The so called „autonomous adaptation“ has led in the last years to constant revisions of the existing regulations. Some Swiss special provisions for the reason of health protection persist, for example a positive list of health related allegations for food, the introduction of maximum quantities for trans fats or the control of packaging inks.
With the revision of the THG in 2010 Swiss producers now profit from the following measures: Swiss special provisions will be reduced consistently in the context of the THG revision and beyond that. Exporting Swiss enterprises will be able to sell their Export products manufactured according to European product regulations also in Switzerland. Non--exporting Swiss enterprises can produce their products for the Swiss market according to the regulations of the EEC or in the case of missing or incomplete harmonization according to the regulations of any EC-/ECC-Member State. The first import of foods require an authorization of the Federal Office for Public Health (BAG) (see „Cassis de Dijon“-Principle).
Rentsch Partner Ltd. advise you comprehensively on questions in Swiss Food Law as well as in European Food Law.