SWITZERLAND: REVISION OF THE ORDINANCE RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES; REVISION OF THE ORDER RELATING TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES; ORDINANCE ON MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.97.218. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: SWITZERLAND. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Federal Office of Environment, Forests and Landscape/Federal Office of Public Health. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above. 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Chemical substances and preparations. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Revision of the Ordinance Relating to Environmentally Hazardous Substances; Revision of the Order Relating to Toxic Substances; Ordinance on Material Safety Data Sheets. 6. Description of content: The drafts include the following new/revised provisions: Classification criteria and labelling requirements for substances and preparations hazardous to the environment according to EC Directive 93/21/EEC and COM (96)347 final; obligation to provide a material safety data sheet to professional users for chemical substances and preparations dangerous to health or the environment. The safety data sheets shall contain the information as requested by 91/155/EEC and 93/112/EEC; health and safety tests used for registration purpose shall be conducted in compliance with the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP); labelling requirements for detergents and cleaning agents shall be modified and brought in line with EC recommendations (89/542/EEC). 7. Objective and rationale: In its Decree of 30 June 1993 on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the area of product regulations, the Federal Council decided to make Switzerland's laws on chemicals compatible with those of the EC. The draft revised ordinances are one step in this harmonization process. 8. Relevant documents: Federal law relating to the protection of the environment; amendment of 21 December 1995. 9. Proposed date of adoption: 1 October 1997; Proposed date of entry into force: 1 October 1997. 10. Final date for comments: 22 July 1997. 11. Text available from: National enquiry point. (0150)

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