Product safety regulation

Product safety regulation imposes duties on manufacturers, importers and distributors to place only safe products on the market and to monitor risks. It may require conformity assessment, warnings, instructions, traceability, cooperation with authorities, recalls or sales bans. Swiss rules are strongly influenced by European technical standards because of market access and bilateral trade practice, but Swiss obligations and competent authorities must be checked directly. Product safety is distinct from product liability, though the same defect may trigger both regulatory and civil consequences.