On July 10, 2025, the WTO circulated a notification from Switzerland regarding a Draft Ordinance on Packaging, which introduces sustainability-focused requirements for the production and disposal of packaging. The draft mandates that producers and distributors minimize material use, enhance packaging design and recyclability, and increase the use of secondary raw materials, wherever technically and economically feasible. The proposed date of adoption is 2026, with the regulation expected to enter into force on January 1, 2027. Transition periods are set until January 1, 2028, for the subsidiary take-back obligation, and until January 1, 2029, for the expanded reporting requirements. The final date for submitting comments is September 8, 2025. Key provisions include: -A subsidiary take-back obligation for non-refillable plastic packaging and beverage cartons, aiming to establish a national separate collection system and improve recycling rates. -Expansion of the prepaid disposal fee currently applied to glass beverage containers to now include other glass packaging for food and cosmetic products. -Introduction of exceptions to mandatory deposits on refillable beverage containers to facilitate reuse. -Extension of reporting requirements to additional packaging materials to improve transparency and enable calculation of recycling rates. -Repeal of PVC beverage packaging regulations, as PVC is no longer commonly used for such applications.
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