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12. Control over the origin, nature and destination of nuclear fuel, debris and waste from nuclear facilities within the framework of the Non Proliferation Treaty and bilateral cooperation agreements

13. The purpose of the regime is to verify the source, nature and destination of the radioactive materials subject to authorization.

14. In order to implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury, ratified by Switzerland on 25 May 2017, which seeks to establish measures aimed at regulating the supply and demand of mercury at international level, the legislation on chemical products was amended so as to introduce a control system for imports of mercury, mercury compounds and mercury alloys. These products can only be imported after import authorization has been issued. Certain exceptions to this rule may, however, apply where the products concerned are imported for research and development purposes.

15. As a State party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal and as a member country of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Switzerland implements the relevant provisions through the Ordinance on the control of movements of wastes (OMoD, RS 814.610) .

The automatic licensing requirement (import registration) depends on whether the goods to be imported are subject to requirements, permits or prior authorizations on the part of other control (environmental, sanitary, phytosanitary, etc.) bodies.

5. The import of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) is subject to licensing. In the context of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on the substances that deplete the ozone layer, the European Commission issues ODS licences based on applications submitted via the ODS Licensing System. Imports (as well as exports) of controlled substances, referred to hereby as ozone depleting substances (ODS) and products and equipment containing or relying on ODS are prohibited. However, there are exemptions to this prohibition.

6. The import of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) is subject to licensing. In the context of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on the substances that deplete the ozone layer, the European Commission issues ODS licences based on applications submitted via the ODS Licensing System. Imports (as well as exports) of controlled substances, referred to hereby as ozone depleting substances (ODS) and products and equipment containing or relying on ODS are prohibited. However, there are exemptions to this prohibition.
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Companies must have a prior valid license registration to import and export fluorinated gases (f-gases) into and from the European Union. Further, for import of bulk hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) it is a requirement that the quantity of HFCs placed on the market are covered by quota on an annual basis. In addition, importers placing on the market (e.g. import released for free circulation) refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment charged with HFCs must also be registered and the quantities of HFCs must be accounted for within the quota system at the time of import. This must be documented and a declaration of conformity must be drawn up in this respect. Also, the placing on the market of certain products and equipment containing f-gases with a certain global warming potential are prohibited and the placing on the market of non-refillable containers of fluorinated gases is forbidden. Equipment, products and containers with fluorinated gases must be labelled appropriately.

8. The import of waste into the EU is for some waste controlled under a permit system administered by the national competent authorities. Its requirements are tied in with those of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
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In accordance with the EU's obligations under the Basel convention and in the organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the regulation applies to hazardous wastes and other wastes as listed in the schedules of the Basel Convention.

9. Under the FLEGT licensing scheme the EU has concluded FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with a number of countries. Timber products (defined in the Agreements by HS codes) exported from FLEGT partner countries to the EU are covered by a FLEGT licence issued by the licensing authority of that country. The FLEGT licence demonstrates that the timber products have complied with relevant legislation as set out in the corresponding bilateral FLEGT VPAs. Once operational the implementation of the licensing scheme requires that imports of relevant timber products into the EU be made subject to a system of checks and controls so that only FLEGT licenced timber will be imported to the EU.

10. The EU Wildlife Trade Regulations are based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and comprise a double-checking system involving export and import controls both at the country of origin and at EU level. The EU Wildlife Trade Regulations and CITES cover trade in, by default, all specimens, whether alive or dead, including parts and derivatives, from animal and plant species listed in the Annexes (EU Regulation)/Appendices (CITES) . The term “trade” (in CITES “trade” refers to all cross-border movements of CITES specimens) encompasses not only trade in a commercial sense but also, for example, imports and (re‐)exports for personal use. The species covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 – the "Basic Regulation" which together with several Implementing Regulations constitute the "Wildlife Trade Regulations"