Origin of bread must be labeled in open sales
Published: Friday, Dec 8th 2023, 14:00
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In future, the origin of bread and baked goods must be declared in writing when sold openly. The Federal Council has amended the corresponding ordinance and a further 24 ordinances in connection with the revision of the Foodstuffs Act.
The revision of the Foodstuffs Act strengthens health and fraud protection and keeps Swiss legislation at the same level as in the EU, as announced by the Federal Council on Friday. The new rules will apply from February 1, 2024.
This also includes new rules for avoiding food waste. According to the Federal Council, manufacturers and retailers are now given clear guidelines on the measures they must take before they can donate food or pass it on to charitable organizations.
The federal government is also introducing a maximum level for residues of Pfas chemicals in food. Pfas stands for perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds and is a group of chemicals that are difficult to break down. These can be released into the environment and thus into the food chain through their use in plastics, rainwear or fire-fighting foam.
There will also be a change next year in meat production, where animals are killed on the farm or pasture. This has been possible in Switzerland since 2020. The time period in which animals may be transported to the slaughterhouse after death will be extended from 45 to 90 minutes. According to the Federal Council, this does not jeopardize food safety, but makes it easier to kill animals on farms and pastures, as there is more time for slaughter.
Cosmetics and tattoo inks are also regulated under food law. In future, stricter regulations will apply to preservatives contained in tattoo inks. Switzerland is adopting the corresponding EU maximum levels. This will provide better protection for the health of people wishing to get a tattoo.
For cosmetics, a maximum level of a phototoxic plant substance will also be introduced for imported products that remain on the skin and are exposed to the sun. The maximum level already applies to products manufactured in Switzerland. This change will apply from the beginning of 2026. Specifically, the substances in question are furanocoumarins. They are activated by sunlight and can therefore have a carcinogenic effect.
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