What is the Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem)?

What is the Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem)?

The Swiss Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) stands for the Ordinance on the Reduction of Risks relating to the Use of Certain Particularly Dangerous Substances, Preparations and Articles which entered into force since 2005. 

The ORRChem completely bans certain substances or permits them only for certain applications when no substitute material is available from state of the art technology. Examples in the field of health and consumer protection are the prohibited supply of carcinogenic substances to the public or the restriction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in articles that contain plastics, which may come into contact with the body (e.g. bicycle handlebars).

The Ordinance is almost a combined version of EU RoHS, REACH Annex XVII Restricted Substance List and REACH Annex XIV Authorization List.