Labeling of food and articles of daily use

The Foodstuffs and Utility Articles Ordinance also sets out the requirements for correct labeling as part of the general requirements for foodstuffs. The basic principle is that all information must correspond to the facts and must not mislead the consumer. In addition, the labeling must be clearly visible in an easily legible and indelible font in an official language. How the information is to be provided in detail is regulated in the FDHA Ordinance on Food Information, LIV.

Special labeling and advertising of the individual types of food are regulated in the product-specific ordinances of the food legislation.

Depending on the product and sales situation, further provisions of other ordinances may apply, e.g. the

• Additives Ordinance
• Quantity declaration ordinance
• Price Disclosure Ordinance
• Agricultural Declaration Ordinance
• Organic Regulation

As correct labelling can be very time-consuming and complicated for some products, there are institutions that specialize in labelling and also in the production of labels. Our office can provide you with an overview of such institutions.

For resource reasons, our office can only assess simple labeling. The time and effort involved will be charged.

On the packaging (= repackaging) of cosmetic products, the list of ingredients must be provided in descending order of quantity under the term "ingredients" when the product is placed on the market.

The following information must be provided on the packaging (= outer packaging) and the container of the cosmetic product when it is placed on the market:

a. the intended use, if this is not clear from the presentation;

b. the name, company name and address of the manufacturer, importer, distributor or responsible person;

c. the minimum preservation or best-before date until which the cosmetic product fulfills its original function if stored properly, indicated in the order month and year or day, month and year preceded by a pictogram or the words "best before";

d. if the best-before date is more than 30 months, the indication of the best-before date is not mandatory; for such products, it is indicated how long the product is safe after opening and can be used without harm to the consumer;

e. if necessary, the storage conditions that must be observed in order to guarantee the stated minimum durability;

f. the batch number or the mark enabling the cosmetic product to be identified;

g. Warnings and, as a minimum, the mandatory instructions for each ingredient and, where applicable, special precautions for cosmetic products for professional use.

For other commodities, there are extensive to almost no labeling requirements. The hazard warnings and instructions for use are of particular importance. Detailed requirements can be found in the relevant ordinances.