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Export Requirements for Switzerland

SZ-37 (May 23, 2008)

Asterisks (*) indicate the most recent revision to these requirements. To search, click on your browser's "Edit" menu, then click on "Find (on this page)". Enter "*" in the "Find What" field, then click "Find" or "Find Next" until all asterisks have been identified.


Eligible/Ineligible Products
  1. Eligible Product
    1. Meat Products
      1. Fresh/frozen beef is eligible for export to Switzerland.*
      2. The animals from which the meat is derived must be kept in either the U.S.A. or Canada during three months prior to slaughter or since birth.
      3. Meat derived from cattle treated with growth promoting hormones is eligible for export to Switzerland. Switzerland is establishing maximum residue levels of 2 ppb in muscle tissue for trenbolone acetate, zeranol, and melengestrol acetate (MGA). Switzerland conducts imported product residue testing. Detection of these compounds above the tolerance level will be considered violations by Switzerland.
    2. Fresh/frozen meat derived from horses.
    3. Fresh/frozen poultry and poultry products.
    4. Ostrich meat.
    5. Wild boar meat.
    6. Pork and pork products, except swine heads.
  2. Ineligible product
    1. Trimmings from boning operations, ground meat, mechanically separated meat.
    2. Meat not produced and stored in approved facilities.
    3. Meat treated with tenderizers or coloring agents (except methyl violet used in branding).

Facility, Slaughter, and Processing Requirements

Meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants and cold storages exporting to Switzerland must meet the same facility, slaughter and processing requirements as are required for export to the European Union. Exporters should consult the Facility, Slaughter, and Processing sections of the European Union Export Requirements for further information.

At this time, Switzerland will allow the use of any of the U.S. approved antimicrobial treatments on poultry.

Labeling Requirements
  1. U.S. labeling requirements, including "Product of the USA" and the statements on storage temperatures ("Keep Refrigerated," "Keep Frozen," etc.) fully apply to product prepared for export.
  2. In addition, all chilled and frozen meat products must have the packing date shown on each package. (Although slaughter or production dates are required on FSIS Form 9470-3, the packing dates are not required on packages of poultry).
  3. Expected shelf life (end-of-use date) must be indicated only on chilled (unfrozen) consumer-size packages having a net weight of 4.4 lbs. (2 kg.) or less.
  4. Tamper evident seals - Tamper evident seals must be used on boxes or packaging and shall consist of the following:
    1. Pressure sensitive labels that bear the official USDA inspection legend of the establishment must be used to seal boxed or packaged product for export to Switzerland. The legend must follow 9 CFR 312.2. These special labels must be serially numbered, e.g., 10,000 labels printed, numbered 1 through 10,000. Establishments may develop their serial numbering systems independently.
    2. These labels must be applied to packaging in such a manner that the official inspection legend on the labeling is destroyed when the package is opened.

Documentation Requirements
  1. Red Meat and red meat products, including horsemeat, but excluding wild boar (see below).
    1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 - Export Certificate of Wholesomeness and an FSIS letterhead certificate. The letterhead certificate must accompany all shipments that are certified for export to Switzerland on or after September 1, 2005.

      Note: Currently, there are no animal health restrictions on U.S. meat exports to the EU. Any changes to the animal health status will be included in these requirements. Statement A.4 of the letterhead certificate should be marked to indicate that the products comply with the additional sanitary requirements of the EU.
    2. Obtain an FSIS letterhead certificate with the EU SRM statement for all meat from ruminants. This revised SRM certificate is required for shipments arriving in Switzerland on or after October 1, 2007.

      Note: The following tissues are designated as specified risk material according to Annex V of EC No. 999/2001 (as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 722/2007):

      (a) as regards bovine animals:

      (i) the skull excluding the mandible and including the brain and eyes, and the spinal cord of animals aged over 12 months;
      (ii)the vertebral column excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the spinous and transverse processes of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the median sacral crest and wings of the sacrum, but including the dorsal root ganglia of animals aged over 30 months;* and
      (iii) the tonsils, the intestines from the duodenum to the rectum and the mesentery of animals of all ages.

      (b) as regards ovine and caprine animals:

      (i) the skull including the brain and eyes, the tonsils and the spinal cord of animals aged over 12 months or which have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum, and
      (ii) the spleen and ileum of animals of all ages.

      Establishment operating procedures must include a process to assure that these SRM's, as defined by the EU, have been removed from products intended for export to Switzerland.

      Carcasses, half carcasses or half carcasses cut into no more than three wholesale cuts, and quarters containing no specified risk material other than the vertebral column, including dorsal root ganglia, may be imported.

      Although the injection of air during stunning is not permitted, captive bolt stunning alone is permitted.
    3. FSIS Form 9180-3 (Form MP 141)--Certificate of Authenticity--may be issued for high quality beef upon request by exporter. Effective May 1, 2001, product certified by FSIS Form 9180-3 must be either graded USDA Prime or Choice or be produced under an AMS approved program which verifies that production practices meet the definition of "High-Quality beef" (see reverse side of form). Further information about establishing a program can be obtained from AMS Meat Grading and Certification Branch at (202) 720-1113.
    4. Wild Boar - Starting April 1, 2007, Switzerland will require the EU format for certification of wild boar. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5 - Export Certificate of Wholesomeness and obtain the new FSIS Letterhead Certificate. See guidelines to complete.
  2. Poultry Products (including ostrich meat)
    1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5--Certificate of Wholesomeness.
    2. Obtain FSIS Form 9470-3--Certificate for Export of Meat and Poultry to Switzerland. Ensure that slaughter dates are to be shown on FSIS Form 9470-3. Copies may be inserted into a moisture-proof bag and placed into one of cartons marked "Copy of certificate inside."
  3. Additional requirements that apply to all certificates.
    1. All required certificates and supplementary statements must be dated and signed by the same FSIS veterinarian (name, degree [DVM or equivalent] must be typed after the signature). The signature of the veterinarian must be in an ink color other than black and in a color that is visible on faxed certificates.
    2. Effective December 15, 2004, all required certificates and supplementary statements must be stamped with the FSIS rubber export stamp indicating the certificate number or replacement certificate number if a replacement certificate is issued. The ink color must be in a color other than black and in a color that is visible on faxed certificates.

Other Requirements
  1. Phosphates are permitted only in cooked poultry products.
  2. Poultry products entering Switzerland may be tested for Salmonella. Salmonella positive samples may result in rejection of shipment.
  3. There are no exceptions for products intended for personal consumption. They must comply with the same requirements as commercial shipments.

Plants Eligible to Export
  1. Plant Approval
    1. Fresh/frozen meat and meat products must be slaughtered, processed, and stored in establishments that meet the EU facility, slaughter, and processing requirements, and must appear on the EU list of approved establishments. See the EU Export Requirements for information about obtaining EU approval.
    2. Fresh/frozen poultry and poultry products must be slaughtered, processed, and stored in establishments that meet the EU facility, slaughter, and processing requirements with the exception for the use of antimicrobial treatments identified in the Facility, Slaughter, and Processing Requirements section. Establishments that meet these requirements and seek Swiss approval should submit FSIS Form 9080-3, Establishment Application for Export, to the Office of International Affairs (OIA), Import/Export Programs Staff, through FSIS supervisory channels. OIA will notify Switzerland of establishments that meet requirements and request approval.
    3. At this time, meat and meat products supplied to airline catering services can originate from any Federally inspected facility.
  2. List of Eligible Plants

    The List of Approved Meat Plants for Export to the European Union is updated periodically and is available through the Export Requirements Library.

Plants Not Eligible to Export

Plants not approved according to the requirements in the Plants Eligible to Export section above.

SZ-37 (May 23, 2008)
United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service