The Swiss Legislation on Chemicals
If you drink much from a bottle marked 'poison' it is certain to disagree with you sooner or later. ― Lewis Carroll
Situation
The Swiss Chemicals Act (ChemA) and the Chemicals Ordinance (ChemO) require that:
- Any business handling or trading any dangerous product must designate a "contact person" according to SR 813.113.11.
- Any person who sells or hands out certain dangerous products ("class 1" and "class 2") to certain clients must possess the permit "remittance of chemicals" according to SR 813.131.21.
- Anyone who is transporting dangerous goods must adhere to the prescriptions of the ADR and eventually appoint a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor according to SR 741.622.
This affects every business in Switzerland where dangerous chemicals are bought, sold, imported or exported, transported, produced, stored, used or disposed of - regardless of the core activity and the size of the company! (If you are unsure whether you are affected: please free to call us, we're happy to serve you!)
What is "dangerous"?
Swiss law considers any product that carries any of the 9 CLP pictograms shown above as dangerous. Any company who handles, sell or uses such a product must designate a "contact person" (yes, even if you just handle them in-house!).
Within these products, there are two particular sub-categories:
- Group 2 are products with pronounced dangers (e.g. H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage). These can be sold to private users, provided that (a) the user is actively informed about the properties of the product at the point of sales and (b) the seller (vendor) has a valid permit "remittance of chemicals" according to SR 813.131.21.
- Group 1 are dangerous products with extreme dangers, such as highly toxic compounds (e.g. H310: Fatal in contact with skin), carcinogens (e.g. H340: May cause genetic defects, H350: May cause cancer) and all explosives. These must only be handed to professional users and the same remittance restrictions as for Group 2 apply.
- Note that both conditions – information of the user, permit for the vendor – must always be fulfilled, even if the products are sold e.g. via Internet and/or shipped by mail!
Some specific skills are required
The skills and expertise required are defined in the corresponding regulations (SR 813.113.11 for the "contact person", SR 813.131.21 for the "remittance of chemicals"). The latter is assessed by a formal test and accompanied by an official certificate. — To pass the test, it is not enough to have some basic knowledge of chemistry. The real emphasis is on the knowledge of the applicable laws and regulations, the capability to read and understand a material safety data sheet and to be able to advise the customer!
Our service: Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA)
Companies that ship dangerous goods by road or rail in Switzerland generally have to appoint a dangerous goods safety advisor (DGSA).
DGSA: role
The role of the DGSA is described in SR 741.622 section 3. In a nutshell, the job of the DGSA is to reduce the dangers that may arise in connection with the filling, packaging, preparing, loading, shipping/transporting or unloading of dangerous goods. Dangerous goods safety advisors:
- advise their company on all matters concerning the transport of dangerous goods,
- monitor the legally compliant handling of dangerous goods,
- coach the employees that are involved in these processes
- and prepare (at least) an annual report on the company's activities around the transport of dangerous goods.
External DGSA?
The DGSA can be an internal employee or an external person. Depending on the size of your the company and the situation, it may be worthwhile to appoint an external DGSA and this is where we come in:
- Since 2020, we are officially qualified to act as external dangerous goods safety adviser for your company.
For a detailed offer, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to draw up a tailor-made offer for you.
Training and Certification
We offer a comprehensive training program that covers all aspects of the Swiss Chemicals Act and related regulations, including the certification for the remittance of chemicals. All our courses are run in a highly interactive, down-to-earth workshop atmosphere and are available both as "open", public training and as in-house training:
Contact person
In Switzerland, any business handling or trading any dangerous product must designate a "contact person" according to SR 813.113.11.
This 1-day crash course provides you with all the information you need to act as "contact person". It is also useful for officers, company owners and managers, employees from purchasing and logistics in wholesale and retail trade, internal and external auditors.
- Duration: 1 day.
- Next public training: (FR) Lausanne: May 24, 2024. – (DE) Aarau: June 25, 2024. – (FR) Lausanne: August 29, 2024. – Register.
- This training is also available as in-house training, with the course material in German or in French and english-speaking moderation: Get in touch with us.
- Download the fact sheet: Contact person for Chemicals in German and French.
Introduction to GHS and ADR: Transport of Chemicals
The ADR is a European regulation that covers the transport of dangerous goods by road. It has been adopted as law in Switzerland (with a few exceptions) and covers the entire transport chain, from the selection of suitable packaging through transport up to unloading at the destination.
This interactive 1-day course teaches the basics and application of the GHS and ADR in a down-to-earth and pragmatic manner. This course is an introduction according to ADR clause 1.3.2.1 and is aimed at anyone who is involved in the packaging, transport or postal dispatch of chemicals: manufacturers, resellers, retailers, product managers, employees from purchasing, sales and logistics.
The content of the course is applicable to any company that buys, stores, uses, produces, packages and/or ships chemicals, regardless of industry.
- Duration: 1 day.
- Next public training: (FR) Lausanne: May 14, 2024. – (DE) Aarau: October 14, 2024. – Register.
- This training is also available as in-house training: Get in touch with us.
- Download the fact sheet: GHS and ADR in in German and French.
Remittance of chemicals
In Switzerland, any person who sells or distributes certain dangerous products ("class 1" and "class 2") to certain clients must possess the permit "remittance of chemicals" according to SR 813.131.21.
This course is "the" official 2-day training course with federal exam for anyone who wishes to acquire or refresh the permit according to SR 813.131.21: salespeople and customer advisors, employees in wholesale and retail trade.
We are proud that more than 98% of our participants pass their exam on the first try!
Remittance of chemicals / Brush-up training
This is a 1-day refresher course for people who already possess the permit according to SR 813.131.21 but need to brush up their knowledge on the latest developments.
Note: if your permit is older than approx. 2012, we strongly recommend that you re-take the "full" training course.
- Duration: 1 day.
- Next public training: (DE) Aarau: June 25, 2024. – Register.
- This training is also available as in-house training, with the course material in German or in French and english-speaking moderation: Get in touch with us.
- Download the fact sheet: Remittance of Chemicals/brush-up in German and French.
Contact / Register
To register for any public training, follow this link: Dates and Registration.
Do you have any questions, do you need help, do you want to book an in-house course? All our courses are also available as in-hourse training. Just get in touch with us!