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Selling cleaning products and detergents in Switzerland

In Switzerland, cleaning products and detergents fall under the Chemicals Act and the Chemicals Ordinance (ChemV), which apply EU CLP labelling with Swiss additions, and the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem), which restricts phosphates, EDTA and surfactants. Hazardous products are notified to the Notification Authority for Chemicals, attached to the FOPH (BAG), within three months.

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

Law
Chemicals Act, ChemV and ORRChem
Labelling
EU CLP, plus a Swiss name, address and phone number
Label language
At least one official language of the place of sale
Notification
To the product register within three months of first sale
UFI
On hazardous mixtures in Switzerland from January 2026
Laundry detergents
No phosphates; EDTA no more than 0.5%

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is the product a cleaning product, a laundry detergent or a biocide such as a disinfectant? Read more
  2. 2Is it classified, and does the label follow CLP with the Swiss additions? Read more
  3. 3Does it carry a UFI, and is there a safety data sheet where required? Read more
  4. 4Has it been notified to the Notification Authority within three months? Read more
  5. 5Does the formula meet the ORRChem limits on phosphates, EDTA and surfactants? Read more
  6. 6Do the ingredient labelling, dosage and data sheet meet the detergent rules? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Self-supervision and scope

Who answers for a chemical product, and when authorisation is needed.

  • Manufacturers classify, package and label their substances and preparations themselves, under self-supervision (ChemA Article 5).
  • Products may be placed on the market without prior consent, except where new substances must be notified or biocidal products authorised (ChemA Article 6).
  • Under the ChemV, the manufacturer includes the importer, and a Swiss reseller that sells under its own name or packaging.
  • The FOPH says chemical products sold online through Swiss domains (.ch and .swiss) are subject to official controls, and import for private use is outside chemicals legislation.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your product description and claims against these definitions and shows whether the biocide rules may apply. Ask about this

Labelling, UFI and safety data sheets

What the label and documents of a hazardous product carry.

  • Hazardous substances and preparations are labelled under the listed articles of the EU CLP Regulation, with the manufacturer's name, address and telephone number (ChemV Article 10).
  • The label is in at least one official language of the place where the product is supplied (ChemV Article 10); the official languages are German, French and Italian (Article 10a).
  • The FOPH says that from January 2026 chemical products classified for health or physical hazards carry a unique formula identifier (UFI), preceded by «UFI».
  • For products sold only in Switzerland, the Swiss manufacturer, importer or licence holder creates the UFI using its Swiss VAT number and gives it when registering in the product register (FOPH).
  • A safety data sheet is prepared for hazardous substances and preparations and others listed, where it must be passed on (ChemV Article 19).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label and safety data sheet against the CLP particulars and Swiss additions, and shows what is missing. Ask about this

Notification to the product register

Telling the Notification Authority what is on the market.

  • The manufacturer notifies the Notification Authority within three months of first placing on the market the substances and preparations that need a safety data sheet (ChemV Article 48).
  • The notification gives the manufacturer's name and address and, for preparations, details including composition and classification (ChemV Articles 49 and 50).
  • Notifications are made electronically, in an official language or English (ChemV Article 51); changes are notified within three months (Article 52).
  • The Notification Authority for Chemicals is the joint contact point of the FOEN, FOPH and SECO, administratively attached to the FOPH.

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

Detergent and cleaner restrictions

What laundry detergents and cleaning products may contain and must state.

  • Laundry detergents may not contain phosphates, more than 0.5% EDTA or PDTA, or surfactants below the set biodegradability levels (ORRChem Annex 2.1).
  • Cleaning products may not contain more than 1% EDTA or PDTA or surfactants below the biodegradability levels; household machine dishwashing detergents stay under 0.3 g phosphorus per standard dose (ORRChem Annex 2.2).
  • Air fresheners and deodorising products for indoor use may not contain 1% or more of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (ORRChem Annex 2.2).
  • Laundry detergent labels list listed ingredients above 0.2% in weight bands, give the manufacturer's name, address and phone number, and express dosage in SI units for soft, medium and hard water (ORRChem Annex 2.1).
  • Manufacturers of laundry detergents make an ingredient data sheet available to the Notification Authority, listing ingredients in weight bands (ORRChem Annex 2.1).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your formula and ingredient data sheet against the ORRChem limits and shows any result outside them. Ask about this

Advertising

What may be said about a chemical product.

  • Advertising may not give a false impression of a product's hazards or environmental compatibility (ChemV Article 60).
  • Terms such as «biodegradable», «ecologically harmless», «environmentally friendly» and «water-friendly» may be used only with an explanation of the property claimed (ChemV Article 60).
  • Advertising for hazardous products that consumers can buy without seeing the label states the hazardous properties (ChemV Article 60).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your marketing copy against these limits and shows which claims need an explanation. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe product sold under its name, its label and its claims.Label, SDS and claims read against the ChemV in one place.
ManufacturerClassification, labelling, the safety data sheet and the notification.Formula versions, SDS and notifications kept together.
ImporterCounts as manufacturer under the ChemV for products it brings in, including the notification.Suppliers' SDS and labels read and dated before the goods arrive.
RetailerSelling labelled products, and counts as manufacturer if it sells under its own name.Questionnaires answered from the product record.

Who enforces

The Notification Authority for Chemicals, attached to the FOPH, receives notifications for the FOEN, FOPH and SECO. Enforcement authorities run spot checks, including on online sales through Swiss domains (FOPH).

Labels are in at least one official language of the place where the product is supplied, which differs between parts of the country (ChemV Article 10).

Questions businesses ask

Which law covers cleaning products in Switzerland?
The Chemicals Act, the Chemicals Ordinance (ChemV) for classification, labelling and notification, and the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) for detergent and cleaner restrictions.
Which language must the label be in?
At least one official language of the place where the product is supplied: German, French or Italian (ChemV Articles 10 and 10a).
Does a cleaning product have to be notified?
Products that need a safety data sheet are notified to the Notification Authority within three months of first sale, electronically, in an official language or English (ChemV Articles 48 and 51).
Who is the Notification Authority?
The joint contact point of the FOEN, FOPH and SECO for chemicals, administratively attached to the FOPH.
Is a UFI required in Switzerland?
Yes, from January 2026, on chemical products classified for health or physical hazards, according to the FOPH.
Who creates the UFI for a Swiss-only product?
The Swiss manufacturer, importer or licence holder, using the official generator and its Swiss VAT number, and gives it when registering in the product register (FOPH).
Are phosphates allowed in laundry detergents?
No. Laundry detergents may not contain phosphates or more than 0.5% EDTA (ORRChem Annex 2.1).
What about dishwasher detergents?
Household machine dishwashing detergents must stay under 0.3 g of phosphorus per standard dose (ORRChem Annex 2.2).
Can a cleaner be called 'environmentally friendly'?
Only if the property claimed is explained at the same time (ChemV Article 60).
Are disinfectants cleaning products?
Disinfectants are biocidal products, which need authorisation under the Chemicals Act (Article 6) rather than notification alone.
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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