Council of States rejects mandatory PFAS labelling

Switzerland’s Council of States has rejected a proposed mandatory labelling requirement for PFAS, SRF reported. The measure was intended to give consumers clearer information about products containing the potentially environmentally and health-damaging substances.

PFAS are found in numerous everyday products, including frying pans, jackets, electrical appliances and food packaging. Some products carry labels stating that they are PFAS-free, but many do not.

Environmental chemistry lecturer Basil Thalmann said even experts can struggle to determine which products contain PFAS. He said manufacturers generally know when they use the substances and could declare them, although recycled plastics may still contain PFAS that were not deliberately added.

PFAS expert Martin Scheringer, an environmental chemist at ETH Zurich, was more sceptical about whether a labelling requirement could realistically be implemented given the widespread use of PFAS in many products.

The Council of States considered two motions calling on the Federal Council to create a legal basis for mandatory PFAS labelling. The proposals were submitted by National Councillor Susanne Vincenz-Stauffacher and Council of States member Matthias Michel, both from the FDP.

The majority of the responsible committee rejected the requirement, arguing that other PFAS measures were already under way. Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider also warned that implementation would create a substantial administrative burden, make imports considerably more difficult and limit the availability of certain products in Switzerland.

Michel withdrew his motion during the debate for formal reasons. The Council of States rejected Vincenz-Stauffacher’s proposal, meaning the labelling requirement will not go ahead.

Scheringer said the broader goal could still be achieved by other means. He argued that society should replace as many PFAS as possible in as many applications as possible. The federal government is preparing an action plan to reduce PFAS exposure for people and the environment, but the plan will not immediately help consumers seeking guaranteed PFAS-free products.