Chemicals law

The Swiss Chemicals Act and the ordinances based on it were enacted in Liechtenstein in June 2006, LR 170.551.631, Annex I. Liechtenstein performs in Swiss Chemicals Law the functions of a Swiss canton.

An overview of the regulations on Swiss chemicals law can be found on the CH-Merkblätter prepared for this purpose, as well as on the federal government's website.

In the area of chemicals, since Liechtenstein joined the EEA in 1995, EU regulations have applied in addition to Swiss regulations, to the extent that they have been incorporated with the specific adaptations into the EEA Agreement and promulgated in the EEA Collection of Laws 

Liechtenstein has essentially the same rights and obligations under EEA chemicals law as an EU member state, with the Office for the Environment acting as the national authority.

An overview of the EEA regulations can be found on the EEA fact sheets prepared for this purpose.

In order to be able to place dangerous substances and preparations on the market in the EU, the respective national regulations of the Member States must be taken into account in addition to the EU regulations.

REACH, Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006  concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.

Specific questions about REACH can be emailed to the REACH Help Desk reach@llv.li at the Office of Environment.

CLP / GHS, Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labeling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

Specific questions about CLP/GHS can be directed by mail to the CLP Helpdesk clp@llv.li at the Office for the Environment.

Biocidal products are substances and mixtures that control harmful organisms to protect people, materials or objects.

To ensure adequate protection of humans and the environment while ensuring the effectiveness of biocidal products, the Biocidal Products Directive (RL 98/8/EC) was adopted at the EU level in 1998.

Since 2013, the Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012 (BPV) has been in force in the European Union.

By adopting the EU regulation, Liechtenstein essentially has the same rights and obligations as an EU member state.

EU approvals for active substances and products in Liechtenstein, will be reviewed by Swiss authorities based on the agreement between the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Swiss Federal Council on cooperation in the biocide product approval process. Biocidal products that are authorized in Switzerland under Swiss law are also authorized in Liechtenstein based on the customs agreement.

The EEA Leaflet EB03 Biocidal Products provides information on the most important obligations for placing biocidal products on the market.

Further information regarding authorization can be found on the homepage of the Swiss Chemicals Notification Authority 

Specific questions regarding the Biocidal Products Ordinance can be directed by mail to the Biocide Helpdesk biocide@llv.li at the Office for the Environment.

Plant protection products are chemical or biological active ingredients and preparations that are primarily intended to protect plants from weeds, pests or diseases. Depending on the target organism, a distinction is made between fungicides (against fungi), herbicides (against weeds), insecticides (against insects) and others.

In Liechtenstein, the Swiss regulations apply exclusively in the area of plant protection products. They are set out in Annex 2.5 of the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance and listed in the Plant Protection Products Ordinance .

Plant protection products may not be placed on the market until they have been approved. Authorization can be obtained either through a regular approval procedure, through authorization to deal with exceptional situations, or through inclusion in the list of foreign plant protection products authorized in Switzerland.

In the area of approvals of plant protection products with new active substances, an exemption exists in Liechtenstein. Plant protection products with a new active ingredient approved in Switzerland are not automatically also approved in Liechtenstein, but are generally only approved after twelve months.

The new active substances approved in Switzerland, which are not yet approved in Liechtenstein, are published by the Office for the Environment on a list of active substances indicating the date of approval in Liechtenstein.

Further information can be found on the CH-Merkblätter. 

Fertilizers are substances and mixtures of substances that serve to nourish plants.

The model of "parallel marketability" also applies to fertilizers. But with regard to the cadmium limit in fertilizers, Liechtenstein has adopted the corresponding EEA provisions with adaptations into the EEA Agreement. In this area, only the Swiss provisions apply.

Further information can be found on the CH-Merkblätter 

Protecting the ozone layer

Vienna Convention / Montreal Protocol

After the depletion of the ozone layer was discovered in the early 1970s, two international treaties to protect the ozone layer, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, negotiated and signed in 1985 and 1987, respectively. These treaties have been ratified by all member states of the United Nations. In addition, the 2016 extension of the Montreal Protocol, known as the "Kigali Amendment," also regulates hydrofluorocarbons, which are potent greenhouse gases.