The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO, Eidgenössiche Finanzkontrolle) has published an audit report identifying significant shortcomings in Switzerland’s authorisation procedures for plant protection products. The audit concludes that complex administrative structures, substantial application backlogs and insufficient cost recovery undermine the efficiency of the current system, despite recent regulatory reforms aimed at further aligning Swiss authorisation procedures with those of the EU.

According to the report, approximately 50% of applications submitted between 2018 and 2025 remain pending. The authorisation process involves five federal bodies across three departments, resulting in numerous administrative interfaces and coordination challenges. The backlog has also contributed to an increasing reliance on emergency authorisations: in 2024, 34 emergency authorisations were granted, compared with only 18 regular approvals. Furthermore, the electronic application management system, InfoFito, introduced in 2025, has yet to deliver the expected efficiency gains.

The SFAO’s audit also identifies shortcomings in procedural predictability and financing. Binding processing deadlines are largely absent, making it difficult for applicants to plan market entry. At the same time, authorisation fees cover only approximately 15% of the administrative costs, raising questions about the financial sustainability of the current system.

To address these deficiencies, the SFAO recommends simplifying cooperation between the authorities involved, introducing clearly communicated processing deadlines and strengthening procedural monitoring. It also calls for higher authorisation fees to improve cost recovery, alongside measures to reduce the backlog. Further improvements to digital workflows and closer coordination between assessment bodies are expected to contribute to more efficient procedures.

The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO, Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen BLV) has accepted the audit’s recommendations and acknowledged the need for reform. An action plan is being developed in cooperation with the other federal authorities involved, focusing on reducing pending applications, improving process management, strengthening digitalisation and increasing fees. The FSVO also intends to introduce more systematic monitoring of processing times and examine alternative organisational arrangements to simplify assessments.

The findings highlight the need for further administrative improvements following the revision of the Plant Protection Products Ordinance, which entered into force in December 2025. The effectiveness of the planned measures will be decisive for reducing authorisation delays and improving regulatory predictability for manufacturers and other market participants.