swissdamed: Importer Links by 1 April 2027
The swissdamed importer-linking function became available on 1 October 2026. During the transition, Swissmedic will not take enforcement measures solely because a link is missing. From 1 April 2027, it will no longer accept a delay between placing an imported device on the Swiss market and linking it to the importer's CHRN.
Swissmedic has activated the swissdamed function that importers must use to link themselves to the devices they place on the Swiss market. The function has been available since 1 October 2026. Importers have a transitional period until 1 April 2027; from that date, Swissmedic will no longer accept a gap between an imported device being placed on the market and its linkage in swissdamed.
The obligation comes from Article 53(4) of the Swiss Medical Devices Ordinance (MedDO) in conjunction with Article 13(4) of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), and Article 46(4) of the Swiss In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Ordinance (IvDO) in conjunction with Article 13(4) of the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (IVDR), as set out on Swissmedic's importer page.
How the linkage works
Importers do not register devices in swissdamed. They link their existing actor registration — identified by their Swiss Single Registration Number (CHRN) — to the unique device identifier-device identifier (UDI-DI) of a device that has already been registered by the manufacturer, the authorized representative, or the foreign person assembling systems or procedure packs, and that has the status "On the market". Swissmedic states that linkage is free of charge.
Importers are responsible for linking all devices, systems and procedure packs they place on the Swiss market and for keeping their contact details current in the Actors module. Bulk upload of up to 1,000 UDI-DIs per operation is available, and links can be cancelled with an unlink function.
The deadlines that matter
| Milestone | Date | Source statement |
|---|---|---|
| Technical linkage function available | 1 October 2026 | Availability and deadlines |
| End of transition for importer linkage | 1 April 2027 | From this date, delay is no longer accepted |
| Eyewear Master UDI-DI assignment, registration and linkage | 1 November 2028 | Spectacle frames, spectacle lenses, ready-to-wear reading spectacles |
Until 1 April 2027, Swissmedic will not take enforcement measures solely because a link is missing. That is a transition statement, not an exemption from the underlying obligation. Device registration has its own timetable.
Why manufacturers should care
Pure Global analysis: the deadline sits with importers, but the prerequisite does not. A device must be correctly registered before an importer can link to it, and registration by manufacturers, system and procedure pack producers and authorized representatives has been mandatory since 1 July 2026, with registration due by 31 December 2026. Treat 1 April 2027 as a joint supply-chain milestone: check device registration status, importer CHRNs, the UDI-DI list per importer, and the eyewear exception where applicable.
For the underlying registration timetable, see our swissdamed registration obligations update.
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