Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 2/14/2019

Overview

As a member of CEN (European agency for standards), Switzerland adopts any new European standards in reconciliation with any conflicting national standards.   Switzerland applies “Harmonized European Standards” pertaining to health, safety and environmental criteria.  All products covered by those standards must carry the CE label as a sign of compliance in all EU countries, including Swiss products exported into the EU.  However, Switzerland does not require the CE label on products for Swiss domestic use.  
All standards organizations in Switzerland fall under the umbrella of SNV, the Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung or Swiss Standards Association.  SNV provides local manufacturers with guidance on worldwide standards, serves as the link to relevant European (CEN) and international organizations (ISO), and is responsible for introducing the Swiss position at conferences and meetings.

Swiss standardization through the SNV is a decentralized system which delegates responsibilities within autonomous standards sectors.  Approximately 3,000 Swiss experts from business, public administration, research, and society contribute to drafting the content of standards.  When two parties mutually agree to abide by a given standard as part of an agreement or if the legislature mandates its compliance, a standard becomes binding.  Otherwise, standards may be voluntarily adopted and there is no legal obligation to comply with them. 

Any company, institution, or individual with representation in the SNV may submit a written proposal for a new standard so long as it contains a rationale and specific suggestions.  Once the need for the creation of the new standard has been identified and the funding secured, the proposal becomes a standardization project.  At that point, any interested party that dispatches experts to the SNV’s working bodies or specialist areas may participate in drafting standards. 

Standards

Standards in Switzerland are designated by a number with an alphanumerical prefix which indicates the standard origin and level of recognition. They are as follows:
SN – denotes a national standard primarily of national interest
SN EN – denotes a national unchanged adoption of a European standard
SN ISO – denotes a national unchanged adoption of an international standard
SN EN ISO – denotes a national unchanged adoption of the Europe-wide international standard
Standard documents can be browsed or purchased on the SNV’s website: www.shop.snv.ch

Notify U.S.:

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based U.S. government e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected countries and industry sectors of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations.  This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Testing, inspection and certification

Conformity assessment is controlled by a multitude of laboratories and companies that must be accredited by a Swiss Government Agency known as “SAS” (Schweizerische Akkreditierungsstelle). This agency is comparable to the U.S. NIST and includes its own extensive testing laboratories. It is the sole authority that provides relevant laboratories and companies with the accreditation to certify products in specific areas according to standards ISO/EC 17000 and EN 45000.  The accreditation procedure is a complex process that includes the physical inspection of the laboratories and equipment, the staffing, and a determination of the organization’s level of independence and possible conflicts of interest.
Swiss Federal Office for Metrology and Accreditation
Lindenweg 50, CH-3003 Bern-Wabern, Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 323 3511; Fax +41 31 323 3510; www.sas.ch
 
Product certification is covered by laboratories and companies licensed or accredited by SAS.  All relevant laboratories and companies are listed by sector on the SAS website www.sas.ch (in English).
Underwriter Laboratories (UL) maintains its office in Switzerland:
UL International (Schweiz) AG
Ringstrasse 1, CH-8604 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
Phone: +41 43 355 4020; Fax +41 43 355 4039; http://www.ul-europe.com
 

Publication of technical regulations

SNV (see above) publishes all new norms in its “SNV Bulletin” in a dedicated section called “SWITEC” (https://www.snv.ch/en/services/switec-infocenter/information-switec-snv-news/).  Nearly all new standards published in the SNV Bulletin have first been processed and approved by CEN.

Contact Information

Major organizations/agencies with programs to propose and/or implement standards:

1.          SNV – Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung
Bürglistrasse 29, CH-8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Phone +41 52 224 5454; Fax +41 52 224 5474; www.snv.ch
Association serving as the national umbrella for all Swiss organizations interested in standards. Provides guidance on new standards. Publishes new standards in its “SNV Bulletin” (instead of a “National Gazette”)
 
2.         Electrosuisse, SEV Verband für Elektro- Energie- und Informationstechnik
Luppmenstrasse 1, CH-8320 Fehraltdorf, Switzerland
Phone +41 44 956 1111; Fax +41 44 956 1122; www.electrosuisse.ch
Sector covered: electrical safety standards, electromagnetic emissions
 
3.         SIA, Schweiz. Ingenieur- & Architektenverein
Selnaustrasse 16, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 44 283 1515; Fax +41 44 283 1516; www.sia.ch
Sector covered: building standards (above and underground construction, cultural aspects, environmental criteria, insulation, air-cond/heating/safety)
 
4.         VSS, Schweiz. Verband der Strassen- und Verkehrsfachleute
Sihlquai 255, CH-8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 44 269 4020; Fax +41 44 252 3130; www.vss.ch
Sector covered: traffic safety, planning of public and private sector transportation networks, energy efficiency, signaling, safety in tunnels, financing
 
5.         SVGW, Schweiz. Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches
Grütlistrasse 44, CH-8002 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 44 288 3333; Fax +41 44 202 1633; www.svgw.ch
Sector covered: quality standards of processes and equipment for drinking water and natural gas
 
6.         VSA, Verband Schweiz. Abwasser- und Gewässerschutzfachleute
Europastrasse 3, P.O. Box, CH-8152 Glattbrugg, Switzerland
Phone +41 43 343 7070; Fax +41 43 343 7071; www.vsa.ch
Sector covered: sewage treatment and water pollution control
 
7.         BAFU, Bundesamt für Umwelt (Swiss Environmental Agency)
Papiermühlestrasse 172, CH-3003 Bern-Ittigen, Switzerland
Phone: +41 58 462 9311; Fax +41 58 462 9981; www.bafu.admin.ch
 
8.         ASUT, Swiss Telecommunication Association
Klösterlistutz 8, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland
Phone +41 31 560 66 66; +41 31 560 66 67; www.asut.ch
Sector covered: Communications equipment
 
9.         BAKOM, Swiss Federal Office for Communications
Zukunftstrasse 44, P.O. Box 332, CH-2501 Biel, Switzerland
Phone +41 58 460 5511; Fax +41 58 463 1824
Sector covered: telecommunications incl. radio and TV; www.bakom.admin.ch
 
10.       Swissmem, ASM Verband Schweiz. Arbeitgeber der Maschinenindustrie
Pfingstweidstrasse 102, CH-8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 44 384 4111; Fax +41 44 384 4242; www.swissmem.ch
Sector covered: industrial machinery such as machine tools, textile machines, packaging machine, power generating and distribution equipment etc.
 
11.        Interpharma, Verband forschender Pharmafirmen in der Schweiz
Petersgraben 35, P.O. Box CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Phone +41 61 264 3400; Fax: +41 61 264 3435; www.interpharma.ch
Sector covered: manufacturers of pharmaceuticals with own research departments
 
12.        SWISSMEDIC, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products
Hallerstrasse 7, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
Phone +41 31 322 0211; Fax +41 31 322 0212; www.swissmedic.ch
Sector covered: Swiss government agency comparable to the U.S. FDA
 
13.        SUVA, Schweiz. Unfallversicherungsanstalt
Fluhmattstrasse 1, CH-6002 Luzern, Switzerland
Phone +41 41 419 5111; Fax +41 41 419 5828; www.suva.ch
Sector covered: occupational safety, agency comparable to U.S. OSHA
 
14.       BAG – Swiss Public Health Agency (FOPH)
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Phone: +41 58 462 2111; Fax +41 31 323 3772; www.bag.admin.ch
Sector covered: public health
 

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