Restriction on furocoumarins in Switzerland

Switzerland has introduced a restriction on the sale of beauty products containing furocoumarins above 1mg/kg under the Swiss Ordinance on Cosmetic Products (VKOS), which officially came into effect on 1 January 2026. This requirement is already outlined in the Legislative Reference of our Quality Assurance Manual (QAM), section 2.3. 

Furocoumarins are typically found in natural fragrance oils. They can damage the skin when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. While these substances are already restricted in sun care and tanning products under EU law, the Swiss regulation includes an expanded range of cosmetic products that must adhere to the limitation of 1mg/kg. 

The new restriction covers beauty products applied directly to the skin that are exposed to UV or daylight during normal use. This includes:

• Skin creams, lotions, gels and oils

• Sunscreens

• Lip care products

In these products, a maximum concentration of 1mg/kg of the following furocoumarins is permitted: 

• Byakangelicol 

• Epoxy-Bergamottin

• Isopimpinellin 

• 5-Methoxypsoralen 

• 8-Methoxypsoralen 

• Oxypeucedanin 

• Oxypeucedanin hydrate

• Psoralen 

While new restrictions officially came into effect on 1 January 2026, there is a transition regarding existing stock already in the country.

If you ship from outside Switzerland (cross-border): Every shipment clearing customs from 1 January 2026 must comply with the 1mg/kg limit immediately.

If you ship from a warehouse within Switzerland: You can continue to sell existing stock if it cleared customs on or before 31 December 2025 until it's sold out. Any new stock arriving after 1 January 2026 must meet the limit.

Any affected articles will be deactivated for sale on Zalando Switzerland to ensure compliance and protect you from fines. You must identify all impacted articles and notify us by 6 March 2026 at the latest.

These articles can still be sold in other countries where the sale of these articles is allowed.

1. Review your article assortment

Check your article assortment for beauty products that contain furocoumarins.

2. Contact us by 6 March 2026

Reach out to our Partner Care team via our support form by 6 March 2026. Select category: Product safety, and request type: Product deactivation.

Please provide the list of articles, including the following information:

• Article description

• European Article Number (EAN)

• Zalando SKU

3. We’ll deactivate the affected articles 

We'll then deactivate the affected articles from Zalando Switzerland.

4. Monitor your assortment

You should proactively monitor and provide lists of potentially affected articles throughout the year. You need to be able to distinguish between articles that came through customs and into Switzerland before and after 1 January 2026, as only those that entered Switzerland prior to this date are eligible for the transition period until 31 December 2026.