G/SPS/N/CHE/84  
 
24 April 2020  
(20-3221) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  SWITZERLAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office  
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):  All foodstuffs on the Swiss Market  
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:  Revision of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility 
articles . Language(s): German, French, Italian . Number of pages: 2 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CHE/20_2902_00_x1.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CHE/20_2902_00_f.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CHE/20_2902_00_x2.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Due to the COVID -19 pandemic certain food ingredients and 
packaging material may be in short supply. To provide food manufacturers more flexibility 
and to avoid reduced availability of foodstuffs for consumers, the labelling requirements 
for food products are relaxed for a time limited period of six months. The derog ation will 
allow food producers to source alternative ingredients or packaging materials to substitute 
ingredients or materials in short supply without having to amend the packaging 
information.  
For the derogation to apply, the following conditions have t o be met:  
First, the manufacturer has to demonstrate that the supply shortage is a direct 
consequence of the COVID -19 pandemic;  
Second, the alternative ingredients used have no bearing on the relevant health 
information provided on the packaging (e.g. ing redients that are allergen or may cause 
undesired reactions); and  
Third, foodstuff produced according to this derogation  has to be labelled with a red round 
sticker followed by an internet address where consumers can obtain information about 
the ingredient s and packaging materials used, and how these may differ from the 
information contained on the packaging.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] prote ct territory from 
other damage from pests. The changes are aimed at ensuring the availability of 
foodstuffs whilst ensuring human health and avoid misleading consumers.  G/SPS/N/CHE/84  
 
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  8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  Avoid reduced 
availab ility of foodstuffs due to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
9. 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) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international st andard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
16 April 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of oth er body:   
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO  
Holzikofenweg 36, 3003 Berne  
E-mail: sps@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  
Holzikofenweg 36, 3003 Berne  
E-mail: sps@seco.admin.ch