G/TBT/N/CHE/271  
28 June 2022  
 
(22-4975) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  SWITZERLAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Federal Office for Agriculture  
Quality and Sales Promotion Unit  
bio@blw.admin.ch  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle c omments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
State Secretariate for Economic Affairs SECO  
Holzikofenweg 36, 3003 Bern  
Switzerland  
Email: tbt@seco.admin.ch  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Organic 
products  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft 
Amendment of the Ordinance on Organic Farming of 22 September 1997 (RS 910.18) and 
Draft Amendment of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research 
(EAER) Ordinance  on Organic Farming of 22 September 1997 (910.181); (15 page(s), in 
German, French and Italian)  
6. Description of content:  The amendment proposal for the Ordinance on Organic Farming 
of 22 September 1997 (RS 910.18) includes the following elements:  
a) extension fo the scope to pet food  
b) clearer provisions on the prohibition of hydroponics, incorporation of the principle of 
soil-bound cultivation and specification of exceptions (e.g. sprout cultivation, cultivation 
in pots)  
d) ban of the use of nanomater ials 
e) revision of the procedure for the authorisation of non -organic ingredients of agricultural 
origin  
f) minimum requirements for organic certificates  G/TBT/N/CHE/271  
 
- 2 - 
 
  The amendment proposal for the EAER Ordinance on Organic Farming (RS 910.181) 
includes the following elements:  
a) use and labelling of flavourings and essential oils  
b) restriction of the use of ion exchange and adsorption resin processes (after 2 years 
transitional period)  
c) use of conventional yeast extract or autolysate in the production of organic ye ast only 
permitted until 31.12.2023.  
d) Updating of various references  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection; Quality requirements; Harmonization; Reducing trade barriers and 
facilitating trade  
8. Relevant documents:   
Ordinance on Organic Farming of 22 September 1997 (RS 910.18) in force:  
German: SR 910.18 - Verordnung vom 22. September 1997 über die biologische 
Landwirtschaft und die Kennzeichnung biologisch produzierter Erzeugnisse und 
Lebensmittel (Bio -Verordnung) (admin.ch)  
French: RS 910.18 - Ordonnance du 22 septembre 1997 sur l'agriculture biologique et la 
désignation des produits et des denrées alimentaires biologiques (Ordonnance sur 
l'agriculture  biologique) (admin.ch)  
Italian: RS 910.18 - Ordinanza del 22 settembre 1997 sull'agricoltura biologica e la 
designazione dei prodotti e delle derrate alimentari ottenuti biologicame nte (Ordinanza 
sull'agricoltura biologica) (admin.ch)  
English: SR 910.18 - Ordinance of 22 September 1997 on Organic Farming and the 
Labelling of Organically Produced Products and Fo odstuffs (Organic Farming Ordinance) 
(admin.ch)  
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) Ordinance 
on Organic Farming of 22 September 1997 (910.181) in force:  
German: SR 910.181 - Verordnung des WBF vom 22. September 1997 über die 
biologische Landwirtschaft (admin.ch)  
French: RS 910.181 - Ordonnance du DEFR du 22 septembre 1997 sur l'agriculture 
biologique (admin.ch)  
Italian: RS 910.181 - Ordinanza del DEFR del 22 settembre 1997 sull'agricoltura biologica  
(admin.ch)  
English: SR 910.181 - EAER Ordinance of 22 September 1997 on Organic Farming 
(admin.ch)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  2 November 2022  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 2023  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  G/TBT/N/CHE/271  
 
- 3 - 
 
  11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Swiss Information Center for Technical Rules (switec)  
Sulzerallee 70  
8404 Winterthur  
Tel: +(41) 52 224 54 55  
Fax: +(41) 52 224 54 75  
Email: switec@snv.ch  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHE/22_4340_00_x1.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHE/22_4 340_00_f.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHE/22_4340_00_x2.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHE/22_4340_01_x1.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHE/22_4340_01_f.p df 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/TBT/CHE/22_4340_01_x2.pdf