Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Section 1 Restrictions, Prohibitions and Exemption
Art. 3
1 The restrictions and prohibitions on the use of specific substances, preparations and articles, together with exemptions, are regulated in the Annexes. 2 Exemptions under the Annexes are only granted to persons who are domiciled or have a registered office in Switzerland.
Section 1a Special Labelling
Inserted by Annex No 2 of the O of 11 March 2022, in force since 1 May 2022 (AS 2022 220).
Art. 3a
1 Special labelling must be clearly legible and indelible. It must be in at least one official language of the place where the substance, preparation, appliance or article is supplied to users or the where the system is installed. 2 The following may be labelled in different official language or in English with the agreement of the individual professional users: a. a substance or preparation for supply to professional users; b. appliances and systems for professional users. 3 The official languages are German, French and Italian.
Section 2 Authorisations
Art. 4 Applications requiring authorisation
The following applications require an authorisation granted by the authorities mentioned below: Application Authority granting authorisation a. application, on a professional or commercial basis, of products intended to protect plants against rodents (rodenticides), if applied on more than one farm or by machine cantonal authority; with the agreement of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) in the case of regional or supra-regional applications b. aerial spraying and spreading of plant protection products, basic substances, biocidal products and fertilisers Federal Office of Civil Aviation, with the agreement of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the FSVO, the FOAG, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the FOEN c. application of biocidal products, plant protection products, basic substances and fertilisers in forests, unless covered by an authorisation u
Art. 4 — Amended by No I 6 of the O of 4 Sept. 2013 (Reorganisation in the field of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine), in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3041). Amended by Annex 10 No II 5 of the Plant Protection Products Ordinance of 20 Aug. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 565). Amended by Annex 10 No II 5 of the Plant Protection Products Ordinance of 20 Aug. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 565). Correction of 23 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 864).
Art. 4a Applications that do not require authorisation
The granting of authorisation in accordance with Article 4 letter b is not required for the application of organisms using an unmanned aircraft.
Art. 4a — Inserted by No I of the O of 1 July 2015, in force since 1 Sept. 2015 (AS 2015 2367).
Art. 5 Requirements for authorisation
1 Authorisation shall be granted in accordance with Article 4 letter a or c if the planned application is not expected to endanger the environment. This authorisation is for a limited period and for a specific geographical area. 1bis Authorisation granted in accordance with Article 4 letter b shall be limited in time and geographical scope and only granted if, in the case of the planned application: a. application from the ground is not feasible or application from the air is associated with advantages for the protection of human health or the environment; b. the aviation company uses aircraft and equipment with state-of-the-art technology for the protection of human health and the environment; and c. there is no reason to fear any risk to human health and the environment. 2 Authorisations shall only be granted to persons who are domiciled or have a registered office in Switzerland or in a member state of the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 1 July 2015, in force since 1 Sept. 2015 (AS 2015 2367). Para. 1bis let. c — Inserted by No I of the O of 1 July 2015, in force since 1 Sept. 2015 (AS 2015 2367).
Art. 6 Coordination
If a federal authority is responsible for the authorisation, it shall consult the relevant cantonal authority before making a decision, in particular in relation to whether the cantonal authority takes the view that the conditions for authorisation have been fulfilled and regarding the ancillary requirements to be stipulated in any authorisation that may be granted. The federal authority shall notify the cantonal authority of its decision.
Art. 6 — Amended by No I of the O of 1 July 2015, in force since 1 Sept. 2015 (AS 2015 2367).
Section 3 Certificates
Art. 7 Use of substances and preparations requiring a certificate
1 The following activities may only be carried out on a professional or commercial basis by natural persons with an appropriate certificate or with a qualification regarded as equivalent, or acting under the supervision of such persons: a. the use of: 1. plant protection products, 2. pesticides on behalf of third parties, 3. disinfectants for use in public swimming pools, 4. wood preservatives; b. the handling of refrigerants during: 1. the manufacture, installation, maintenance or disposal of refrigeration, air conditioning or heat recovery appliances or systems, 2. the disposal of refrigerants. 2 Pest control with fumigants may only be carried out by natural persons with an appropriate certificate or with a qualification regarded as equivalent. 3 The competent Federal Department shall specify detailed requirements for certificates. It may provide for exemptions to authorisation requirements. It shall take account of the protection goals.
Para. 1 let. b — Amended by No I of the O of 7 Nov. 2012, in force since 1 Dec. 2012 (AS 2012 6161). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
Art. 8 Proof of specialist knowledge
1 A certificate shall be issued to a person who, in an examination, has demonstrated the knowledge required for the activity concerned with regard to: a. fundamentals of ecology and toxicology; b. legislation on the protection of the environment, health and workers; c. measures for the protection of the environment and health; d. environmental impacts and the appropriate use and disposal of substances, preparations and articles; e. appliances and their appropriate handling. 2 Certificates from member states of the EU and EFTA are regarded as equivalent to Swiss certificates; the provisions on certificates for the use of plant protection products are reserved. 3 The competent Federal Department or its designated agency shall decide, if requested by a college or vocational training establishment, whether a specific qualification must be regarded as equivalent to a certificate. Such equivalence does not apply to the use of plant protection products. 4 The competent Federal Department shal
Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788). Para. 4 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
Art. 8a Certificates for the use of plant protection products issued by member states of the EU and EFTA
1 Equivalence in accordance with Article 8 paragraph 2 does not apply to certificates for the use of plant protection products whose holder is established in Switzerland within the meaning of the Agreement of 21 June 1999 between the Swiss Confederation, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other, on the free movement of persons or Annex K of the Convention of 4 January 1960 establishing the European Free Trade Association. 2 At the request of the holder of a relevant certificate from a member state of the EU or EFTA, the competent Federal Department shall decide on the recognition of the requesting person’s professional qualifications. Recognition shall make it possible for a Swiss certificate to be granted. 3 If the competent Federal Department finds significant differences between the foreign and the related Swiss qualification, it shall offer measures to compensate for these differences (compensation measures), in particular in the form of an ex
Art. 8a — Inserted by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788). Para. 1 — SR 0.142.112.681 Para. 1 — SR 0.632.31
Art. 9 Geographical scope and period of validity
1 Certificates are valid throughout Switzerland. 2 The certificate permitting the professional or commercial use of plant protection products in accordance with Article 7 paragraph 1 letter a is valid for five years. It shall be extended for a further five years, provided that the holder has completed the continuing education and training in accordance with Article 10 before the expiry of the certificate's period of validity. 3 The competent Federal Department may restrict the period of validity of certificates.
Art. 9 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
Art. 10 Mandatory continuing education and training
1 Any person who holds a certificate and carries out the relevant activities must keep abreast of best practices and undergo continuing education and training. 2 If necessary, the competent Federal Department may regulate the details of the mandatory continuing education and training, in particular with regard to its scope, content and conditions, as well as the recognition and monitoring of institutions for continuing education and training. 3 In the case of certificates permitting the professional or commercial use of plant protection products, the continuing education and training must be completed at an institution for continuing education and training recognised by the FOEN.
Art. 10 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
Art. 11 Sanctions
1 If the holder of a certificate wilfully infringes the relevant provisions of environmental, health and worker protection legislation, or repeatedly infringes such provisions through negligence, the cantonal authority may, by means of a ruling: a. require the person concerned to attend a course or take an examination; or b. temporarily or permanently revoke the certificate. 2 The cantonal authority shall inform the competent Federal Office of such rulings.
Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
Art. 12 Responsibilities
1 The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is responsible for certificates as specified in Article 7 paragraph 1 letter a numbers 1 and 4, and letter b. 2 The Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) is responsible for certificates as specified in Article 7 paragraph 1 letter a numbers 2 and 3, and paragraph 2. 3 The Department shall define: a. the content, scope and procedure for examinations; b. the documentation requirements for examining bodies. 4 The Department or its designated agency shall specify the examining bodies that conduct examinations and issue certificates. The certificates permitting the professional and commercial use of plant protection products shall be issued by the FOEN. 5 DETEC shall provide opportunities for preparation for examinations within its sphere of responsibility. 6 In the case of certificates permitting the professional and commercial use of plant protection products: a. the FOEN shall decide in response
Para. 4 — Amended by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788). Para. 6 let. c — Inserted by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
Art. 12a Funding of examining bodies and institutions for continuing education and training
1 Based on Article 49 paragraph 1 EPA and in response to an application made to the FOEN, the Confederation may grant financial assistance for basic and continuing education and training. The bodies and institutions may claim financial assistance for education and training in the following fields: a. agriculture; b. horticulture; c. specialist fields, in particular the use of herbicides in agriculture and in the maintenance of railway and military installations and the maintenance of the grounds of residential, service, commercial, industrial and public buildings; d. forestry. 2 Financial assistance shall be provided in the form of flat-rate payments amounting to a maximum of 50 per cent of the costs of efficient education and training. This includes the planning, organisation, preparation and conduct of examinations and basic and continuing education and training courses. 3 DETEC shall decide on the content and objectives of the basic and continuing education and training and shall st
Art. 12a — Inserted by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2022 788).
