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Selling kitchenware and food contact articles in Switzerland

In Switzerland, materials and articles that touch food are utility articles under food law. The LGV sets the general rule that they may release substances only in safe, technically unavoidable amounts, and the FDHA ordinance on materials and articles in contact with food sets labelling, good manufacturing practice, material limits and declarations of conformity. Cantonal authorities enforce.

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

Law
LGV and the FDHA ordinance on materials and articles in contact with food
General rule
Release only safe, technically unavoidable amounts
Plastics
10 mg/dm² overall migration, plus specific limits
Declaration of conformity
Plastics and ceramics through the supply chain
Label
«For food», a specific use or the Annex 1 symbol, and who supplies it
Plastic recycling
Recycling processes need FSVO authorisation

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is the article intended, or expected, to come into contact with food? Read more
  2. 2Does it carry «for food» or the symbol, and the name and address of who supplies it? Read more
  3. 3Is it made under good manufacturing practice, with documents to show it? Read more
  4. 4Which material is it, and which limits apply: plastic, metal, ceramic, paper? Read more
  5. 5Is there a declaration of conformity where the material needs one? Read more
  6. 6Is recycled plastic used, and is the recycling process authorised? Read more

The rules, by area

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

General requirements and good practice

The rule that covers food contact articles of any material.

  • Food contact articles, including active and intelligent ones, are utility articles intended or expected to come into contact with food, directly or indirectly (LGV Article 48).
  • They may transfer substances to food only in amounts that are harmless to health, technically unavoidable, and do not cause an unacceptable change in the food's composition or taste and smell (LGV Article 49).
  • Food contact articles are made under good manufacturing practice, with a documented quality assurance system and quality control system (Ordinance Articles 4 to 6).
  • The responsible person keeps documents on specifications, formulation and manufacturing processes relevant to conformity and safety (Ordinance Article 7).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps GMP records, specifications and supplier declarations with each article, dated, and shows what is missing. Ask about this

Labelling

What an article sold to consumers carries.

  • Articles sold to consumers that have not yet touched food carry «für Lebensmittel» (for food), a specific use such as coffee machine or wine bottle, or the symbol in Annex 1 (Article 3).
  • Where needed they give instructions for use, and they carry the name or company and address of the manufacturer, importer or distributor (Article 3).
  • The intended-use statement may be left out where the article is obviously meant for food (Article 3).
  • Active and intelligent articles that could be taken as edible are marked «NICHT ESSBAR» (do not eat), in an x-height of at least 3 mm, and with the Annex 11 symbol where possible (Article 38).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your packaging artwork against these particulars and shows what is missing. Ask about this

Material-specific limits

Limits for the main materials.

  • Plastic articles may not release more than 10 mg of constituents per dm² of contact surface, or 60 mg/kg for articles for infant and young-child food, and must meet the specific migration limits in Annex 2 (Articles 12 and 13).
  • Metal articles may contain no more than 0.05% lead, 0.01% cadmium and 0.03% arsenic by mass; coatings must stay in good condition (Article 8).
  • Articles for extracting fruit and vegetable juice may not release more than 10 mg of aluminium per litre, and copper articles need a durable coating, with listed exceptions (Article 9).
  • Ceramic, glass and enamel articles may release lead and cadmium only up to the limits in Annex 8 (Article 26).
  • Recycled paper and board may be used only under set conditions, such as from unprinted production waste or where migration meets LGV Article 49 (Article 27).

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

Declarations of conformity and recycling

The documents that pass down the supply chain.

  • Plastic articles, intermediate products and starting substances are supplied with a written declaration of conformity, issued by the responsible person with the content in Annex 3; it is not needed for supply to consumers (Article 15).
  • The declaration is renewed when composition or production changes in a way that affects migration, or when new scientific evidence arises (Article 15).
  • Ceramic articles not yet in contact with food come with a declaration of conformity at each stage of marketing (Article 26).
  • The responsible person gives the authorities, on request, documents showing conformity, including test conditions and results and calculations (Article 16).
  • Plastic recycling processes for food contact articles need FSVO authorisation, with exceptions such as reuse of production offcuts on site (LGV Article 50).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps suppliers' declarations of conformity with each article and lot, and shows which are out of date after a change. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe article sold under its name, its label and its food contact claims.Labels and declarations read against the ordinance in one place.
ManufacturerGood manufacturing practice, migration testing and the declaration of conformity.Test reports and GMP records kept with each article.
ImporterArticles brought into Switzerland, its name and address on them, and the supporting documents.Suppliers' declarations read and dated before the goods arrive.
Supplier of materialsDeclarations of conformity for plastics, intermediates and starting substances.Declarations collected once and shown to each customer that asks.

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 food contact articles in Switzerland?
The LGV and the FDHA Ordinance on Materials and Articles in Contact with Food, under the Foodstuffs Act.
What is the general rule for food contact articles?
They may transfer substances only in amounts that are harmless, technically unavoidable and do not unacceptably change the food (LGV Article 49).
What must a kitchenware label show?
«For food», a specific use or the Annex 1 symbol unless obvious, any needed instructions, and the name and address of the manufacturer, importer or distributor (Ordinance Article 3).
What is the overall migration limit for plastics?
10 mg per dm² of contact surface, or 60 mg/kg for articles for infant and young-child food, plus the specific limits in Annex 2 (Articles 12 and 13).
Is a declaration of conformity needed?
For plastic articles, intermediates and starting substances through the supply chain, but not for supply to consumers (Article 15). Ceramic articles carry one at each stage of marketing (Article 26).
Are there limits for metal cookware?
Yes. No more than 0.05% lead, 0.01% cadmium and 0.03% arsenic by mass, and coatings in good condition (Article 8).
What about ceramics and glass?
They may release lead and cadmium only up to the Annex 8 limits (Article 26).
Can recycled plastic be used for food contact?
Plastic recycling processes need FSVO authorisation, with exceptions such as reuse of production offcuts on site (LGV Article 50).
Is good manufacturing practice required?
Yes. Articles are made under GMP, with a documented quality assurance system and quality control (Articles 4 to 6).
Who checks food contact articles?
The cantonal enforcement authorities, under food law, with the FSVO supervising and authorising plastic recycling processes.
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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