The defective masks are curved "FFP" ones, not to be confused with the rectangular ones people commonly wear on public transport.
/ Thomas_cunz
Two Swiss bodies have opened investigations into importers and dealers of defective masks imported at the height of the Covid crisis.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/jc
The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) and Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) said on Friday that more than 60 percent of the “FFP” respiratory masks they tested in June were defective.
The FFP masks, which can be recognized by their curved shape, are used notably in the health, agriculture and construction sectors. They should not be confused with the rectangular hygiene masks that people commonly wear on public transport, said the two organisations. Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, is responsible for monitoring them.
Recommendations
The federal government eased import conditions for personal protective equipment at the beginning of April in response to the pandemic. Importers of respiratory protection masks also benefited from the simplified testing.
However, SUVA and the BFU noticed that “numerous defective products had come into circulation”. Because they have a legal mandate for market surveillance of respiratory masks, they carried out tests in a SUVA laboratory in June. Around 60 of the products available in Switzerland, most of which are marked KN95, were tested.
Recalls or sales bans are planned for the defective products. In addition, the authorities call on all stakeholders to be more careful. “We recommend that masks be purchased in speciality medical stores or from recognised dealers,” the agencies said. Most of the masks tested were purchased online, according to Reuters.
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Trump tariff shock: how Switzerland is positioning itself
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Switzerland postpones online platform scrutiny as US tensions rise
This content was published on
Switzerland has delayed regulating large online platforms such as Google, Facebook, YouTube and X while trade tensions are rising.
Swiss Rhône river region braces for possible flooding
This content was published on
A pre-alert for possible flooding has been announced for the Rhône river as some regions of Switzerland brace for bad weather.
Switzerland commits CHF250 million for humanitarian aid
This content was published on
Switzerland allocates CHF250m to the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
This content was published on
Swiss electricity grid operator posts CHF103.8 million net profit, an increase of CHF3.8 million from 2023, boosted by higher tariffs.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Face masks now compulsory on SWISS flights
This content was published on
The airline had until now highly recommended wearing masks throughout the duration of flights – passengers had only been obliged to wear them when boarding and disembarking from planes. However, practically all passengers have been wearing masks for the whole flying time so the new directive should have little impact, the airline said. With more…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.