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Notifications and authorizations

Every company that handles food or utility articles is subject to food legislation. The following activities are included in the handling of food: Production, treatment, processing, storage, transport,  import, export and distribution.

The food legislation provides for the following obligations:

Reporting obligation

Whoever handles food must report the activity to the Food and Veterinary Office.

Companies that are already registered with the Food and Veterinary Office must also report important changes in the business (business orientation, responsible person, location, ...) to the Office (Art. 20 Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung (LGV, SR 817.02).

Foods for special medical purposes are foods intended for patients with limited or impaired ability to absorb, digest, process or excrete ordinary foods or certain nutrients contained therein. The marketing of these foods must be reported to the FSVO.   FSVO Information

Manufacturers or importers must notify the FSVO of the placing on the market of an infant formula as well as follow-on formula.  FSVO Information

According to Art. 62 of the Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung (LGV), SR 817.02, establishments offering tattooing or permanent make-up must report this to the Food and Veterinary Office as the competent enforcement authority.

Whoever wants to build or structurally change a publicly accessible swimming pool must notify the Food and Veterinary Office in advance.

Authorization requirement

Businesses that produce, process, handle, store or dispense food of animal origin require a permit from the Food and Veterinary Office (Art. 21 LGV). Certain establishments are exempt from the permit requirement.  Exemptions

Approved establishments are required to notify the Food and Veterinary Office of major changes, such as alterations, that may affect food hygiene.

Novel traditional foods that are traditionally consumed outside of Switzerland and the EU and novel foods must be approved by the FSVO. Definition of Novel Food

Also, hemp extracts or cannabinoids (such as CBD)are considered novel foods, so they cannot be added to other foods at will.  FSVO Information

If a non-conventional process has been used to produce a food, or if the process results in significant changes in the food, these foods also count as novel foods.

Because of the Cassis de Dijon principle, many products can be imported from the EU area more easily and without technical hurdles. The condition is that the products comply with the regulations of the respective EU country.

Special regulation food: If they do not fully comply with the technical regulations of Switzerland, they can only be sold if there is a permit from the FSVO.  Documents approval procedure 

If there are no concerns in the area of safety and deception, the FSVO will issue the permit by means of a general ruling.   FSVO overview of general rulings

Health claims not already listed in CH legislation must be approved by the FSVO in order to be used. 

Products that are, contain or are derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are subject to a number of regulations in Switzerland. They may only be placed on the market with a permit from the FSVO.

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Laws

Lebensmittelgesetz Lebensmittel- und Gebrauchsgegenständeverordnung Aktuelle Kundmachung der aufgrund des Zollvertrages im Fürstentum Liechtenstein anwendbaren schweizerischen Rechtsvorschriften (Anlagen I und II) Bedarfsgegenstände - Verordnung Kosmetische Mittel - Verordnung (VKos)

Contact persons

Link Website: https://www.llv.li/en/business/safety-protection/food-consumer-protection/notifications-and-authorizations