G/SPS/N/CHE/89  
14 March 2023  
(23-1877) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  SWITZERLAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN ) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Wood and wood products  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Amendment of the FOEN Ordinance on phytosanitary 
measures for forests; SR 916.202.2 . Language(s):  French . Number of pages:  5 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/CHE/23_1893_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This notification concerns the amendment of an existing 
ordinance (VpM -BAFU SR 916.202.2) which specifies the provisions of the Ordinance on 
the Protection of Plants against Particularly Dangerous Harmful Organisms (Plant Health 
Ordinance, PGesV, SR 916.20, which was notified under G/SPS/N/CHE/83). The  purpose of 
the amendment is to maintain the harmonization with the European plant health legislation 
in accordance with the bilateral agreement on trade in agricultural products (agricultural 
agreement) between Switzerland and the European Union.  
The main  changes are as follows:  
− Adapted temporary measures against the introduction of Anoplophora chinensis ; 
− Adjustment of tariff numbers due to the revised nomenclature of the Harmonized 
System (HS).  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal heal th, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : ISPM No. 5, 
9, 14, 31  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  G/SPS/N/CHE/89  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 28 April 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 12 May 2023  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : 15 May 2023  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 21 April 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)  
Non-Tariff Measures  
Holzikofenweg 36  
Tel: +(41 58) 46 40760  
Fax: +(41 58) 46 40958  
E-mail: sps@seco.admin.ch  
Website: http://www.seco.admin.ch  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)  
Non-Tariff Measures  
Holzikofenweg 36  
3003 Bern  
Tel: +(41 58) 46 40760  
Fax: +(41 58) 46 40958  
E-mail: sps@seco.admin.ch  
Website: http://www.seco.admin.ch