International agreements define and supervise the framework conditions that ensure international trade is safe for people and animals. The FSVO contributes to technical adaptations and the ongoing development of existing agreements.
The FSVO contributes to a number of international agreements with the aim of ensuring safety in international trade. The most important Swiss agreements in the fields of animal health, food safety and species conservation are listed below.
Swiss-EU: Agreement on agriculture and food safety
Trade in food and agricultural products between Switzerland and the EU is worth more than CHF 16 billion every year. The EU is Switzerland's main trading partner. Agricultural products provide a clear illustration of this: 50% of Swiss exports in this sector go to the EU, while 74% of imports originate from the EU.
Switzerland has reached agreement with the EU on stabilising the agreement on agriculture and, in addition to its further development, on a new protocol on food safety. The protocol offers significant advantages for the Swiss food industry, for plant and animal health and for consumer protection.
The advantages at a glance
Most frequently asked questions and answers on the EU food safety protocol
Most frequently asked questions and answers on the plant protection product authorisation with the Package Switzerland-EU
1. Closer cooperation beetween Switzerland and EU
A common food safety area strengthens cooperation between Switzerland and the EU along the entire food supply chain: the safety of agricultural products and foods in mutual trade is guaranteed in the long term, and consumer protection and the prohibition of misleading practices are strengthened.
2. Market access
The removal of non-tariff trade barriers in the common food safety area will facilitate access to the EU market for Swiss farmers and food producers.
3. Sovereign agricultural policy
Switzerland will continue to shape its agricultural policy independently. Border protection (customs duties and quotas) for agricultural products will remain unchanged.
4. Food safety
Switzerland will get access to the relevant EU networks and working groups, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), EU risk assessments and EU early alert systems. Switzerland will be included in the EU system for the authorisation of plant protection products. It has also been agreed that the obligation to indicate the country of origin will remain in place for foods sold in Switzerland.
5. Combating fraud
Joint efforts to combat counterfeiting and fraud offer the Swiss food industry greater protection and thus strengthen consumer protection.
6. Genetically modified organisms (GMO)
Switzerland has a more restrictive legislation on GMOs than the EU. Swiss regulations on GMOs remain in place for animal feed, seeds and foodstuffs as an exemption.
7. Animal welfare
Switzerland's higher animal welfare standards will remain in place. The ban on animal transit has also been permanently secured, as an exemption.
8. Animal health
Closer cooperation between Switzerland and the EU strengthens the joint fight against animal diseases that can potentially be transmitted to humans and cause major economic damage. It also strengthens the joint commitment to combating antibiotic resistance.
1. What is changing for consumers?
Food consumers will enjoy even better protection in international online and offline trade. This is thanks to a new, common food safety area between Switzerland and the EU, which is the main objective. The protocol ensures that no products that are deemed unsafe in the EU end up in Switzerland. This improves the protection of human health along the entire food chain.
2. What is changing for food businesses?
There will be no noticeable changes for Swiss food businesses as over 90% of Swiss food legislation is already today aligned with EU law. For example, equivalent regulations apply in Switzerland on hygiene and on food safety, such as identical maximum levels for pesticide residues.
3. Will very small suppliers such as market vendors, club events and farm shops (occasional sale of food) be overwhelmed with red tape and regulations?
No. Nothing will change in practice for farm shops, market vendors and club events. While they are subject to Swiss food laws and must therefore meet the hygiene requirements and ensure product quality, both Swiss and EU law set out relaxed rules for the so-called “direct or occasional” sale of foodstuffs. So there will be no change to the current situation.
4. Will foreign officials carry out checks in Swiss businesses?
No. Checks carried out in food businesses in Switzerland are, and will continue to be, performed by the cantonal authorities, not the EU. The European Commission already conducts audits in the scope of the existing agriculture agreement – both in Switzerland and in other third countries. These audits aim to check whether a country’s food safety control systems are properly implemented.
5. Will Swiss animal welfare standards be relaxed?
No. Switzerland will retain its strict requirements. Its high animal husbandry standards will also continue to apply. Key exemptions will remain in place, in particular the domestic ban on animal transit on Swiss roads.
6. Will genetically modified foodstuffs be imported into Switzerland?
Switzerland was able to negotiate an exemption with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) andwill retain its strict regulations. This means: As is currently the case, genetically modified foodstuffs authorised in the EU will not automatically be licensed in Switzerland. Instead, there will continue to be a Swiss authorisation procedure. For example, several varieties of genetically modified rapeseed are authorised in the EU, among other things for the manufacture of rapeseed oil. In Switzerland, however, no genetically modified rapeseed varieties are authorised.
7. Will dangerous pesticides be used in Switzerland that are currently banned?
No. The Swiss licensing requirements for plant protection products are already virtually identical to those of the EU. The same requirements apply with regard to safety and effectiveness, which is why no plant protection products will be placed on the Swiss market in future that would not be authorised today. The national authorisation procedure and the regulation of product use will continue to take place in Switzerland. It will therefore continue to issue its own requirements and restrictions, for example with regard to water protection and health. The provisions on Swiss water protection remain unaffected.
1. What would change in terms of the authorisation of plant protection products?
With the food safety protocol, Switzerland will be fully integrated into the EU authorisation system. This means that it will be able to fully inspect risk valuations, contribute its opinion on the evaluations of plant protection products, benefit from the knowledge of around 2,000 experts in the EU Member States, and take the lead in evaluations. In future, it will be able to authoriseplant protection products from the “Centre” zone of the EU that it has co-evaluated without delay at the national level. Agricultural producers will thus have faster access to modern, effective products. There is no obligation to adopt the authorisations from the EU. Adoption of authorisations can be waived if the protection of people, animals and the environment is not guaranteed or if the Swiss waters protection requirements are not met.
2. Will authorisation of plant protection products proceed faster in future?
Yes, authorisation will proceed faster, because Switzerland will be able to authorise plant protection products that it has co-evaluated without delay at the national level. The safety and effectiveness of the products remain at the same level, as the authorisation requirements in Switzerland and the EU are virtually identical.
3. Will dangerous pesticides that are currently banned be used in future in Switzerland?
No. The Swiss authorisation requirements for plant protection products are already virtually identical to those of the EU. The same requirements apply with regard to safety and effectiveness, which is why no plant protection products will be placed on the Swiss market in future that would not be authorised today. The national authorisation procedure and the regulation of product use will continue to take place in Switzerland. It will therefore continue to issue its own requirements and restrictions, for example with regard to waters protection and health. The provisions on Swiss waters protection remain unaffected.
4. Is it true that Switzerland will have to adopt all pesticides from other countries in future?
No. Switzerland will be able to authorise plant protection products – without delay and at the national level – from the “Centre” zone of the EU that it has co-evaluated. Agricultural producers will thus have faster access to modern, effective products. However, there is no obligation to adopt the authorisations. Adoption of authorisations can be waived if the protection of people, animals and the environment is not guaranteed or if the Swiss waters protection requirements are not met.
5. Will Swiss waters protection requirements be relaxed?
No. Swiss waters protection requirements, including the protection of drinking water, remain unchanged. Switzerland will continue to check plant protection products in line with the waters protection requirements and will not authorise products – or will authorise them with restrictions – if the requirements are not met. This is also the case in Germany and Denmark, for example, whose waters protection requirements are similarly strict to those in Switzerland. The EU requirements explicitly provide for this (Article 36, EU Plant Protection Product Regulation 1107/2009).
6. Will Swiss health protection requirements be relaxed?
No. The change concerns the process for authorising plant protection products, not the safety requirements (see 7). The authorisation requirements and the provisions for health protection will remain just as stringent as they are today. Switzerland will be able to issue restrictions on plant protection products in future, for example, requirements on mandatory protective clothing. It can also reject plant protection products altogether if health protection is not guaranteed. The EU requirements explicitly provide for this (Article 36, EU Plant Protection Product Regulation 1107/2009).
7. How does the new authorisation process work with the EU food safety protocol?
In future, Switzerland will be part of the EU “Centre” authorisation zone. When evaluating authorisation applications, a country in this zone takes the lead, e.g. Germany, Austria or Belgium. Switzerland’s legal provisions must be taken into account from the outset, in particular in terms of groundwater protection. All countries in the zone, including Switzerland, contribute their expertise to the scientific evaluation of the application. Owing to the consolidated evaluation, Switzerland can then authorise a plant protection product without delay at the national level. It can also refuse it, if the protection of people, animals and the environment is not guaranteed. In terms of waters protection, it will conduct its own check in future and may not authorise a particular product – or may do so but only subject to restrictions. As in the past, Switzerland will issue specific requirements for the use of plant protection products, such as the maximum permitted number of applications per year, distance to watercourses or provisions on protective clothing.
8. Will new active substances for plant protection products be available more quickly in Switzerland?
Switzerland already adopts the approval of active substances from the EU. Specific conditions and restrictions for Switzerland are also possible with the food safety protocol, for example, in terms of protecting watercourses. Active substances that are no longer permitted in the EU will, in return, also no longer be permitted in Switzerland, with immediate effect. This safeguards the supply of organic and conventional plant protection products for agriculture, and Swiss producers will be on a par with those from neighbouring EU countries.
At its meeting on 13 June 2025, the Swiss Federal Council opened the consultation procedure on the Switzerland-EU package. The consultation is expected to last until 31 October 2025.
Animal health and food safety agreements
Veterinary Agreement between Switzerland and the EU
The Veterinary Agreement governs the control of animal diseases, trade in animals and animal products and the import of these animals and products from third countries. It forms the basis of the common veterinary area that facilitates trade with the EU.
Veterinary Agreement Switzerland - EU
Agreement between Switzerland and Norway
In this agreement, Switzerland and Norway acknowledge the equivalence of their respective veterinary regulations governing trade with animals and products of animal origin (Veterinary Agreement Switzerland - Norway (in German)).
The scope of this agreement is the same as that of Annex 11 of the Agreement on trade in agricultural products between the EU and Switzerland (see "Veterinary Agreement Switzerland - EU"). The European veterinary area therefore officially consists of the EU, Norway and Switzerland (with Liechtenstein).
Agreement between Switzerland and New Zealand
In this agreement, Switzerland and New Zealand acknowledge the equivalence of their respective veterinary regulations governing trade with animals and products of animal origin (Veterinary Agreement Switzerland - New Zealand (in German)).
It applies to the following animal species: cattle, pigs, equidae, poultry and hatching eggs, aquacultures, sheep, goats and animals as stipulated in EU Directive 92/65/EEC. This states that the legislation in both countries is equivalent. Provided that it is pursued within the defined scope, trade between Switzerland and New Zealand is subject to the same framework conditions as trade between the EU and New Zealand.
SPS Agreement
The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) contains regulations governing measures to protect the health of people, animals and plants that can have a direct or indirect impact on international trade.
The agreement was an initiative of the World Trade Organization WTO.
Species conservation agreements
CITES - Wild fauna and flora
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), also known as the Washington Convention, is an international trade convention ratified by 180 states.
Extensive international trade is endangering or could endanger many species of animals and plants. These species should only be traded to the extent permitted by their natural populations.
As the enforcement authority for CITES, the FSVO plays an important role in protecting and conserving animal and plant species and their habitats. The legal basis for enforcement is the Federal Act on the Trade in Protected Animal and Plant Species (FA-CITES) (in German)
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW)
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) (in German) regulates whaling worldwide. The intention is to provide adequate protection for whales while at the same time making whaling possible and regulating it. The ICRW currently has 88 member states.
Last modification 23.10.2025
