. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CHE/29
2 April 2002
(02-1620)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SWITZERLAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Federal Office for Public Health, Berne
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Alcoholic beverages, i.e. spirit drinks
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Modification to Ordinance on
Foreign Substances and Toxic Components in Foodstuffs (2 pages, available in French and
German)
5. Description of content:  Establishment of a limit value of 1 mg/l for ethyl carbamate
(urethan) in spirit drinks (not applicab le for spirits produced before 2003 (date of
distillation)).  Ethyl carbamate is predominately built in stone fruit distillates.  A limit valueis implemented because of the carcinogenic properties of ethyl carbamate.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[    ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [     ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:           
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
- Ordinance on Foreign Substances and Toxic Components in Foodstuffs of
26 June 1995 (German/French/Italian:  RS 817.021.23)
http://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/f/sr/c817_021_23.html
- Food Law of 9 October 1992 (German/French/Italian:  RS 817.0)
http://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/c817_0.html
- Food Ordinance of 1 March 1995 (German/French/Italian:  RS 817.02)
http://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/c817_02.html
9. Proposed date of adoption:  April 2002
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  May 2002G/SPS/N/CHE/29
Page 2
11. Final date for comments:  15 May 2002
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ] National notification
authority, [    ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: