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Selling pet food in Switzerland

In Switzerland, pet food is feed, not food. The Feed Ordinance (FMV) and the WBF ordinance on feed (FMBV) set registration, hygiene, labelling and packaging, and the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG, BLW) enforces them, with Agroscope running official feed control. Labels are in at least one official language.

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

Law
Feed Ordinance (FMV) and WBF ordinance on feed (FMBV)
Who enforces
FOAG (BLW); official feed control at Agroscope
Business
Registered with, or authorised by, the FOAG
Label language
At least one official language
Feed type
«Alleinfuttermittel» (complete) or «Ergänzungsfuttermittel» (complementary)
Private imports
Pet food for private use is outside the FMV

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is the business registered with, or authorised by, the FOAG? Read more
  2. 2Does it run a written HACCP-based procedure? Read more
  3. 3Does the label carry the feed type, operator, lot, net mass and additives? Read more
  4. 4Does the pet food label add a free phone number or other contact for further information? Read more
  5. 5Is the feed sold in sealed packaging, and online with the label information? Read more
  6. 6Who checks it, and what can they ask for? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Scope

What feed law covers for pets.

  • The FMV covers import, production, processing, placing on the market and use of feed for farm animals and pets (Article 1).
  • A pet is an animal of a species that is fed, bred or kept but not usually eaten by humans in Europe (Article 3).
  • Import of pet food for private use is outside the FMV (Article 1).
  • SECO notes that the Agreement on Agriculture between Switzerland and the EU provides for equivalence of rules on animal feed.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your product description against the feed definitions and shows which rules follow. Ask about this

Registration and HACCP

What a feed business does before it sells.

  • Feed businesses are registered under Article 47, or authorised under Article 48 where authorisation is required (Article 46).
  • They notify the FOAG of each establishment they control for registration or authorisation, and of significant changes and closures (Article 47).
  • Feed businesses that make, import, transport, store or place feed on the market run a permanent written procedure based on HACCP principles (Article 44).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the registration and HACCP records with the business record, dated. Ask about this

Labelling

What a pet food label carries.

  • Labelling and presentation must not mislead, for example about the purpose, composition or species the feed is for (FMV Article 12).
  • Particulars are shown prominently and legibly in at least one official language (FMV Article 14).
  • The label gives the feed type («Alleinfuttermittel», complete feed, or «Ergänzungsfuttermittel», complementary feed), the name and address of the operator responsible, any approval number, the lot, net mass, additives under the heading «Zusatzstoffe» and moisture where required (FMV Article 15).
  • Compound feed labels add the species, instructions for use, a minimum durability date and the list of feed materials; pet food may use categories of feed materials (FMBV Article 9).
  • Pet food labels give a free phone number or other suitable means by which buyers can ask about the additives and feed materials (FMBV Article 11).

How we help: Compliant Always reads your pet food label against the FMV and FMBV particulars and shows what is missing. Ask about this

Packaging and distance selling

How feed is packed and offered online.

  • Feed is placed on the market only in sealed packaging or containers, closed so the seal is damaged on opening and cannot be reused, apart from listed exceptions (Article 17).
  • Feed sold loose or in unsealed packaging is accompanied by a document with the required particulars (Article 12).
  • Feed offered by distance selling shows the labelling particulars before the contract, except durability and some details that follow on delivery (Article 12).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps packaging specifications with each product and reads product listings against the label record. Ask about this

Official feed control

Who checks pet food, and how.

  • The FOAG enforces the FMV, authorises feed additives and checks feed and businesses at each stage of production, processing and distribution (Article 70).
  • Official feed control at Agroscope registers or authorises firms, inspects on site and authorises new products for animal feeding.
  • The FOAG may take or request samples, and charge the cost of analysis where a business's conduct gives cause (Article 70).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps lab reports and supplier documents with each product and lot, ready for an inspector's request. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe pet food sold under its name, its label and its claims.Labels read against the FMV and FMBV in one place.
ManufacturerRegistration, HACCP and making the feed to the rules.HACCP records, specifications and lab reports kept with each product.
ImporterFeed brought into Switzerland for sale, and its registration with the FOAG.Suppliers' documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
RetailerWhat it sells, including the label information in online listings.Questionnaires answered from the product record.

Federal enforcement

Unlike food, feed law is enforced federally: the FOAG enforces the Feed Ordinance, and official feed control at Agroscope registers firms and inspects them (FMV Article 70).

Labels are in at least one official language: German, French or Italian (FMV Article 14).

Questions businesses ask

Is pet food regulated as food in Switzerland?
No. Pet food is feed, under the Feed Ordinance (FMV) and the WBF ordinance on feed (FMBV). The Foodstuffs Act excludes animal feed from its definition of foodstuffs.
Who enforces pet food rules?
The Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG, BLW), with official feed control at Agroscope (FMV Article 70).
Does a pet food business need to register?
Yes. Feed businesses notify the FOAG of their establishments for registration, or authorisation where required (FMV Articles 46 and 47).
Which language must a pet food label be in?
At least one official language of the Confederation (FMV Article 14).
What must a pet food label show?
The feed type, the operator's name and address, any approval number, the lot, net mass, additives under «Zusatzstoffe», moisture where required, species, instructions, durability and composition (FMV Article 15; FMBV Article 9).
Why does pet food give a phone number?
Pet food labels give a free phone number or other means by which buyers can ask about additives and feed materials (FMBV Article 11).
Can pet food list categories instead of each ingredient?
Yes. Pet food other than for fur animals may name categories of feed materials from FMBV Annex 1.3 (FMBV Article 9).
Is HACCP required for pet food?
Yes. Feed businesses that make, import, transport, store or place feed on the market run a written procedure based on HACCP principles (FMV Article 44).
Must pet food be sealed?
Yes, apart from listed exceptions. The seal must be damaged on opening and not reusable (FMV Article 17).
Do private imports of pet food fall under the rules?
No. Import of pet food for private use is outside the FMV (Article 1).
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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