Containment Ordinance (ContainO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Aim
This Ordinance is intended to protect human beings, animals and the environment, as well as biological diversity and its sustainable use, from hazards or harm caused by handling organisms, their metabolic products and wastes in contained systems.
Art. 2 Subject matter and scope of application
1 This Ordinance regulates the handling of organisms, in particular genetically modified, pathogenic or alien organisms, in contained systems. 2 The transport of organisms intended for handling in contained systems is governed by Articles 4, 15 and 25 only. 3 Handling organisms in the environment is governed by the Release Ordinance of 10 September 2008. 4 The protection of people and the environment against serious damage resulting from major accidents involving microorganisms is regulated by the Major Accidents Ordinance of 27 February 1991. 5 The protection of employees when handling microorganisms is governed by the Ordinance of 25 August 1999 on the Protection of Employees from Dangerous Microorganisms. 6 This Ordinance does not apply to the handling of organisms: a. in accordance with the Ordinance of 20 September 2013 on Clinical Trials in Human Research; b. in the case of personal use of devices the supply of which is authorised in accordance with Article 61 paragraph 3 or Arti
Para. 3 — SR 814.911 Para. 4 — SR 814.012 Para. 4 — Amended by No III 2 of the O of 29 April 2015, in force since 1 June 2015 (AS 2015 1337). Para. 5 — SR 832.321 Para. 6 let. a — SR 810.305 Para. 6 let. b — Amended by Annex 5 No 2 of the O of 4 May 2022 on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices, in force since 26 May 2022 (AS 2022 291). Para. 6 let. b — SR 812.219 Para. 6 let. b — Amended by No I of the O of 27 Sept. 2019, in force since 1 Jan. 2020 (AS 2019 3131).
Art. 3 Definitions
In this Ordinance: a. organisms means cellular or non-cellular biological entities capable of replication or of transferring genetic material, and in particular animals, plants and microorganisms. Mixtures, articles and products containing such entities are also regarded as organisms; b. microorganisms means microbiological entities, in particular bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, viruses and viroids; cell cultures, parasites, prions and biologically active genetic material are also regarded as microorganisms; c. small invertebrates means arthropods, annelids, nematodes and flatworms; d. genetically modified organisms means organisms in which the genetic material has been altered by methods of gene technology in accordance with Annex 1 in a way that does not occur under natural conditions by crossing or natural recombination, as well as pathogenic or alien organisms that have also been genetically modified; e. pathogenic organisms means organisms that can cause diseases in human beings
let. j — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 Sept. 2019, in force since 1 Jan. 2020 (AS 2019 3131).