Waste, chemicals and tanks — company duties (Switzerland)
A list of checks and obligations with their cadence, ready to add to your agenda.
For Swiss companies that produce special waste, handle or store hazardous chemicals, or own tanks containing water-polluting liquids. Covers the VeVA company number and consignment notes, waste classification under the VVEA, safety data sheets and the chemicals contact person under the ChemV, storage and the ten-yearly tank inspection under the GSchV. Does NOT cover ADR/SDR transport, household waste, or customs duties on the import and export of chemicals.
Questions about this product?
Ask what is in the manuals, how often the maintenance is due and what it takes to do it.
What it already has at hand
- No manual on this page
- 8 planned checks, the most frequent every month from installation
Planned checks
Informative summary verified on 11/09/2026. It does not replace legal advice: the regulation cited prevails. If you spot an error, report it.
Some checks are only mandatory in certain countries: pick yours and the list follows.
In Italy this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In France this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Germany this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
- 01
Designate the chemicals contact person
A company handling or supplying hazardous chemicals designates a chemicals contact person (Chemikalien-Ansprechperson) who knows the company's chemical-law duties and acts as the interface with the authorities; no formal qualification is required. Check once a year that the appointment is still current. Proof: the internal appointment record and, where applicable, the cantonal notification confirmation. Applies to companies manufacturing, importing or professionally using hazardous substances and mixtures; those issuing safety data sheets or holding special permits notify the person to the canton on their own initiative, the others report on request.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationVerordnung des EDI über die Chemikalien-Ansprechperson; ChemV/OPChim (SR 813.11)Switzerland onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 02
Check the storage of chemicals and water-polluting liquids
Verify once a year that chemicals and water-polluting liquids are stored with secondary containment (collection trays), segregated by incompatibility, labelled and protected against unauthorised access. Proof: the internal storage inspection record. Applies to companies storing water-polluting liquids or hazardous chemicals; stricter requirements apply in groundwater protection zones and areas.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationGSchG (SR 814.20); GSchV/OPAc (SR 814.201); kantonale Gewässerschutz-/Wasserverordnung (ZH: WsV)Switzerland onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 03
Have the storage tank inspected every ten years
The owner of a permit-required storage facility for water-polluting liquids has it inspected every ten years by a recognised specialist firm and sends the report to the cantonal office. Proof: the inspection report and the tank control booklet (Tankkontrollheft). Applies to permit-required facilities holding more than 450 litres, in particular in groundwater protection areas Au; in the Canton of Zurich the inspection is reserved to firms registered with CITEC Suisse.
every 120 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationGSchG (SR 814.20); GSchV/OPAc (SR 814.201); kantonale Wasserverordnung (ZH: WsV)Switzerland onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 04
Have the leak-detection system checked every two years
Leak-detection systems on tanks and double-walled pipes must be function-tested every two years by a specialist person or firm, on the owner's own initiative and without being summoned. Proof: the test protocol of the alarm system. Applies to tanks and double-walled pipes fitted with a leak-detection system; the two-year cycle is independent of the ten-year tank inspection and must be planned separately.
every 24 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationGSchG (SR 814.20); GSchV/OPAc (SR 814.201); kantonale Wasserverordnung (ZH: WsV)Switzerland onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 05
Apply for the VeVA company number
A company handing over special waste must hold a company number (Betriebsnummer) issued by the canton and shown on the consignment note. Proof: the number published on veva-online.admin.ch and the cantonal decision. Applies to companies handing over special waste; the number identifies the company only and does not authorise it to accept waste from third parties. Cadence to be confirmed on the cited source.
- 06
Issue a consignment note for every special-waste handover
For every handover of special waste the generating company fills in the consignment note (Begleitschein) with the waste code, the quantity and the company number, and checks on veva-online.admin.ch that the disposal firm is authorised. Proof: the copy of the note returned by the disposal firm. Applies to all handovers of special waste; exemptions exist for small quantities and for certain streams (take-back collections) and must be checked with the canton.
continuous checkLegal obligationVeVA (SR 814.610) Art. 6 und Art. 11Switzerland onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 07
Keep the safety data sheets up to date
Whoever professionally supplies hazardous substances or mixtures to professional users or dealers must hand over an up-to-date safety data sheet; the recipient keeps it and makes it accessible to staff. Review the safety data sheet archive once a year. Proof: the collection of sheets with their revision dates. Applies to companies supplying or professionally using hazardous chemicals; the sheets are the basis for the hazard inventory and for staff instruction. Cadence to be confirmed on the cited source.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationChemV/OPChim (SR 813.11) Art. 20-23Switzerland onlySource - 08
Keep the classification of company waste up to date
The company classifies its waste according to the waste list (LoW codes), separates recoverable fractions and special waste and hands them over to authorised disposal firms; review the classification once a year. Proof: the waste-stream inventory and the disposal receipts. Applies to every company producing commercial waste: the VVEA does not require a formal waste plan from all companies, but correct classification and handover are mandatory. Cadence to be confirmed on the cited source.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationVVEA/OLED (SR 814.600) Art. 3 und Art. 9; Abfallverzeichnis-Verordnung (SR 814.610.1)Switzerland onlySource
In Austria this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In United Kingdom this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Spain this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Portugal this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In United States this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Other country this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
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