G/TBT/N/CHE/189
19 March 2015 
(15-1580)  Page: 1/2
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: Swiss Federal Office of Energy 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO 
Holzikofenweg 36 
3003 Berne Fax +41 31 324 09 58 tbt@seco.admin.ch   
http://www.seco.admin.ch   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Equipment and 
protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft revision of 
the Ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council on the Safety of Equipment and Protective 
Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (7 pages, in German) 
6. Description of content: The notified revision of the Ordinance on the safety of equipment 
and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres is part of a package of revisions harmonizing ten Swiss ordinances with technical regulations of Switzerland's main trading partners. It is in line with the «New Legislative Framework» of 
the European Union.  
The proposal harmonizes definitions throughout the Swiss legislation, clarifies obligations 
of manufacturers, authorized representatives and introduces obligations for importers and 
distributors. The proposal also defines new requirements for conformity assessment bodies 
to guarantee a consistent level of quality for conformity assessment procedures. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
The proposal aims to strengthen and complete the existing rules and to improve practical aspects of their application and enforcement. It  will thus increase the protection of human 
health and safety. G/TBT/N/CHE/189 
 
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  8. Relevant documents:  Ordinance of 2 March 1998 on the safety of equipment and 
protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (RS 734.6), available in: 
French ( http://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classifi ed-compilation/19980158/index.html ) 
German ( http://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi ed-compilation/19980158/index.html ) and 
Italian ( http://www.admin.ch/opc/it/classifi ed-compilation/19980158/index.html ) 
9. Proposed date of adoption: 20 April 2016 
Proposed date of entry into force: 20 April 2016   
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from notification 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
https://member s.wto.org/crnattachments/2 015/TBT/CHE/15_1266_00_x1.pdf