Cartagena Ordinance (CartO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 3 Duty of care
Any person who imports or exports genetically modified organisms or is responsible for their transit: a. must take the necessary precautions required by the situation to prevent genetically modified organisms, their metabolites or the waste thereby engendered from endangering animals, the environment or, indirectly, human beings; b. must ensure that their handling, packaging, labelling and transportation takes account of all relevant national and international norms and regulations; c. must ensure that accompanying documentation is provided for each transboundary movement in accordance with Article 4 below.
Art. 4 Accompanying documentation
1 The documentation accompanying the transboundary movements of genetically modified organisms for handling in the environment must contain the following information: a. a clear indication that the goods in question are genetically modified organisms; b. the unique identifier in accordance with the Annex to the Regulation (EC) No 65/2004 of the European Commission of 14 January 2004 establishing a system for the development and assignment of unique identifiers for genetically modified organisms or, in the absence of this identifier, specification of the identity of the organisms with the relevant properties and characteristics; c. instructions on the safe handling, storage, transport and use of the organisms; d. the name and address of a person to contact for any additional information that might be required; e. the name and address of the recipient; f. a declaration certifying that the movement conforms to the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol as these apply to the exporter. 2 If g
Para. 1 let. b — OJ L 10 of 16 January 2004, p. 5, available from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), 3003 Bern.
Art. 5 Import
1 Any person who intends to import genetically modified organisms for handling in the environment requires authorisation in accordance with Articles 7 and 13 RO. 2 Any person who intends to import genetically modified organisms for handling in a contained system must fulfil the requirements of Article 17 or 25 ContainO.
Para. 1 — SR 814.911 Para. 1 — Amended by Annex 5 No 7 of the Release Ordinance of 10 Sept. 2008, in force since 1 Oct. 2008 (AS 2008 4377). Para. 2 — SR 814.912 Para. 2 — Amended by Annex 5 No. 7 of the Containment Ordinance of 9 May 2012, in force since 1 June 2012 (AS 2012 2777).
Art. 6 Export
1 Any person who intends to export genetically modified organisms to a given country for the first time for handling in the environment must first obtain the consent of the competent national authority of the country in question. 2 The application submitted to the said authority must as a minimum contain the information specified in Annex I. 3 The applicant must submit a copy of the application and of the decision of the importing country to the Federal Office for the Environment (the FOEN).
Para. 3 — The designation of the administrative authority has been amended by Art. 16 para. 3 of the Publications Ordinance of 17 Nov. 2004 (SR 170.512.1). This amendment has been made throughout the text.
Art. 7 Obligation to keep a record of exports
1 Any person who exports genetically modified organisms for handling in the environment must keep a register recording each export, classified according to the type and quantity of the organism, the country of destination and the year of export. 2 This information must be made available to the FOEN on request. 3 Such information must be held in safekeeping for a minimum of 30 years following the final export.