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Selling infant formula and baby food in Switzerland

In Switzerland, infant formula, follow-on formula and cereal-based and other baby food are covered by the FDHA Ordinance on Food for Persons with Special Nutritional Needs (VLBP). Infant formula is notified to the FSVO before first sale and on each recipe or label change. Advertising infant formula is limited to scientific and baby-care publications.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Specific rules
VLBP, SR 817.022.104
Infant formula
For infants under 12 months; notified to the FSVO
Follow-on formula
From 6 months to 3 years; notified in some cases
Baby food
For infants and young children from 4 months to 3 years
Pesticide residues
No more than 0.01 mg/kg per active substance
Advertising formula
Only in scientific and baby-care publications

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is the product infant formula, follow-on formula, or cereal-based or other baby food? Read more
  2. 2Does the composition meet the VLBP annexes and the pesticide limits? Read more
  3. 3Does the label carry the name, the important notice and the nutrition declaration per 100 ml? Read more
  4. 4Does the product need to be notified to the FSVO before it is sold? Read more
  5. 5Does the advertising and promotion stay within the limits? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Categories

How the VLBP defines each product.

  • Infant formula is food for healthy infants, meaning children under 12 months, in the first months of life, that on its own meets their nutritional needs until suitable complementary feeding is introduced (Article 5).
  • Follow-on formula is the main liquid element of a progressively varied diet for infants from 6 months and young children between one and three years (Article 12).
  • Cereal-based food and other baby food meet the particular needs of healthy infants and young children between four months and three years (Article 18).
  • Substances added to these foods must be bioavailable and have a nutritional or physiological effect, and are those listed in Annex 1 or permitted under the novel food rules (Article 3).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your product specification against the VLBP definitions and shows which set of rules follows. Ask about this

Composition and residues

What the product may contain.

  • Follow-on formula is made from the protein sources in Annex 3 and meets Annexes 3 and 3a (Article 13).
  • Cereal-based food meets Annex 5 and other baby food Annex 6; only the substances in Annex 1 may be used, and added vitamins and minerals stay within Annex 7 (Article 19).
  • Agricultural products treated with pesticides in Annex 8 List A may not be used for infant formula, follow-on formula or baby food (Article 22).
  • Ready-to-eat products may not contain pesticide residues above 0.01 mg/kg per active substance (Article 22).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your specifications and residue reports against these limits and shows any result without a report on file. Ask about this

Labelling

What the label of formula and baby food carries.

  • The name is «Säuglingsanfangsnahrung» (infant formula), or «Säuglingsmilchnahrung» where it is made only from cow's or goat's milk protein (Article 7).
  • Infant formula labels state suitability from birth when infants are not breastfed, preparation and storage instructions, and an «Important notice» that breastfeeding is superior and that the product is used only on independent professional advice (Article 7).
  • The nutrition declaration of infant formula is given per 100 ml of the prepared product; nutrition and health claims are not allowed except set statements on lactose and DHA (Article 8).
  • Baby food labels state the age from which the product may be used, and gluten information where the recommended age is under six months (Article 20).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label against the VLBP statements and shows which are missing. Ask about this

Notification to the FSVO

Which products are notified before sale, and how.

  • Whoever makes or imports infant formula notifies the FSVO before first placing it on the market, and on each recipe change or label change, with an original pack or label (Article 11).
  • Follow-on formula is notified only if it is made from protein hydrolysates or contains substances not listed in Annex 1 (Article 17).
  • The FSVO asks for a separate notification for each product, with the signed form and the documents it lists, sent by email.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each notification with the product and recipe version it covers, and shows which changes have no notification on file. Ask about this

Advertising and promotion

Limits on marketing infant formula.

  • Advertising for infant formula may appear only in scientific publications and publications devoted to baby care, with scientific and factual information only (LGV Article 41).
  • It may not imply that bottle feeding is equal or superior to breastfeeding (LGV Article 41).
  • Samples, coupons, gifts, special displays and similar promotions that encourage consumers to buy infant formula are prohibited, including in distance selling (LGV Article 41).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your marketing copy against these limits and shows which statements need a second look. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe formula or baby food sold under its name, its label and its advertising.Label and marketing read against the VLBP and LGV in one place.
ManufacturerThe composition and residue limits, and the FSVO notification.Specifications and residue reports kept with each lot.
ImporterFormula brought into Switzerland, and its notification to the FSVO.Suppliers' documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
RetailerSelling infant formula without the promotions the LGV prohibits.Questionnaires answered from the product record.

Cantons

Federal acts and ordinances set the rules. Inside Switzerland the cantons enforce food and utility-article law, each through a cantonal chemist who heads the cantonal enforcement authority; the Confederation enforces at import, export and transit (Foodstuffs Act, Articles 38, 47 and 49).

Labels must be in at least one official language: German, French or Italian. Some rules ask for the language of the place of sale, which differs between cantons.

Questions businesses ask

Which law covers infant formula in Switzerland?
The FDHA Ordinance on Food for Persons with Special Nutritional Needs (VLBP), alongside general food law. The FSVO's notification page calls it the VLBE.
Does infant formula have to be notified?
Yes. Whoever makes or imports it notifies the FSVO before first sale and on each recipe or label change, with an original pack or label (VLBP Article 11).
Does follow-on formula have to be notified?
Only if it is made from protein hydrolysates or contains substances not listed in VLBP Annex 1 (Article 17).
How is a notification sent?
The FSVO asks for one notification per product, with its signed form and the listed documents, sent by email.
What must an infant formula label say?
Its name, suitability from birth when infants are not breastfed, preparation and storage instructions, and an «Important notice» that breastfeeding is superior (VLBP Article 7).
Can infant formula make claims?
No nutrition or health claims, except set statements such as «lactose only» and «lactose-free» and a statement on DHA (VLBP Article 8).
What are the pesticide limits?
Ready-to-eat products may not contain residues above 0.01 mg/kg per active substance, and products treated with pesticides in Annex 8 List A may not be used (VLBP Article 22).
Where can infant formula be advertised?
Only in scientific publications and publications devoted to baby care, with factual information (LGV Article 41).
Can infant formula be promoted in shops?
No. Samples, coupons, gifts, special displays and similar promotions are prohibited, including in distance selling (LGV Article 41).
What age range does baby food cover?
Cereal-based and other baby food is for healthy infants and young children between four months and three years (VLBP Article 18).
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Switzerland?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Switzerland and what your paperwork needs to show.

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