BUYUSA.GOV -- U.S. Commercial Service

Switzerland Local time: 08:09 PM

Chp 05: Trade Regulations and Standards

Import Tariffs

Generally speaking, Swiss duties are "specific" rather than "ad valorem". The customs duty varies according to the item imported; the Swiss customs tariff uses the Harmonized System (HS) for the classification of goods. Customs duties are levied per 100 kilograms of gross weight, unless some other method of calculation is specified in the tariff (e.g. per unit, per meter, per liter). The gross dutiable weight includes the actual weight of the goods and their packaging, including the weight of any fixing material and supports on which the goods are placed. More information can be found on the homepage of the Swiss Customs Office.

Value Added Tax

Imported goods and services are also subject to a Swiss value added tax (VAT). The standard VAT rate is 7.6 percent, although there is a reduced rate of 2.4 percent for certain goods and services, including the following: foodstuffs, agricultural products (meats, cereals, plants, seed and flowers), medicine and drugs, newspapers, magazines, books and other printed materials as well as on services of radio and TV companies. Domestically produced goods are subject to the same VAT rates.

The VAT is levied at the border and is prepaid by the customs broker/freight forwarder who then invoices it to the importer or end-user. A U.S. exporter selling services for more than SF. 75,000 into Switzerland is liable to pay VAT of 7.6 % and should register with the Swiss Federal Tax Administration:

Swiss Federal Tax Administration
Main Division of the Value Added Tax
Schwarztorstrasse 50
3003 Bern
Tel. (41-31) 322 21 11, Fax. (41-31) 325 71 38
http://www.estv.admin.ch

Contact CS Switzerland for assistance.

Trade Barriers

Switzerland generally meets its commitments under WTO and bilateral agreements. However, due to significant tariff and quota barriers for many agricultural products, combined with a restrictive approval process for biotech products, labeling for meat produced with hormones and antibiotics and general consumer rejection of biotech products, US market opportunities in Switzerland are limited for these products.

Switzerland has a strict regulatory regime for agricultural biotechnology products. In order for biotech food or animal feed products to be imported and sold on the Swiss market, they must undergo a lengthy approval process. In addition, labeling is required for products containing biotech ingredients or derived from such ingredients. Recently, Switzerland further tightened labeling rules so that even so-called "second-generation" products derived from a biotech derivative (such as corn syrup produced from starch made from biotech corn) must also be labeled as biotech. The Swiss rules on approval and labeling roughly parallel those of the European Union. In addition, a referendum vote has also established a moratorium on planting of biotech crops and production of biotech animals in Switzerland. This moratorium went into effect on November 27, 2005, and will be in force for five years, but does not apply to imports of biotech food or feed.

A continuing obstacle to U.S. exporters, particularly those of high value products, is the food retailing system. Two retail giants, accounting for nearly half of grocery sales, dominate the retail market. U.S. exporters are disadvantaged by this system because the two food chains emphasize their own store brand products and favor products from their own processing plants. They are devoted primarily to in-house brands, followed by international brands to which they have exclusive marketing rights in Switzerland. Another barrier for U.S. brands represented by these major retail chains is their policy not to sell genetically modified (GMO) foods.

Over the past few years, Switzerland has taken steps to remove barriers to competition in its automotive, electricity, telecommunications, and postal sectors. The Swiss automotive market was liberalized in 2005, giving consumers greater choice in purchases of new automobiles and parts and giving independent car dealerships the right to sell, service and repair vehicles without violating warranty rules. Postage services are liberalized with the exception of the Swiss Postal Service’s monopoly for shipments (letters/parcels) weighing less than 100 grams (one-tenth of a kilo).

The new Federal Electricity Supply Act that went into effective January 1, 2008, will partially open the Swiss electricity market for competition as of January 1, 2009, when customers with an annual electricity consumption of 100,000 kWh will be able to choose their suppliers. Industry analysts foresee increasingly challenging market conditions for Swiss electricity companies over the next few years; however, most are already prepared for price competition and will have time to adjust to new market conditions. As electricity is a product that is very difficult to differentiate, pricing is expected to remain key in an increasingly competitive market environment. With environmental concerns growing in importance, the longer term may well see the emergence of more eco-labels in the Swiss electricity market.

An amendment to the Telecommunications Act was implemented in April 2007 that encourages competition in the fixed telephony market and provides for unbundling of the local loop, known as “opening of the last mile”. As a result, telecommunications service providers have the right to access Swisscom’s infrastructure and services in relation to the following: fully unbundled access to the local loop, fast bitstream (data stream) access, billing for the connection to the fixed network, interconnection, leased lines, and access to cables. The amendment to the Telecommunications Act follows the main principles of EC law with one exception—the Swiss regulatory authority (Comcom) does not impose specific obligations on service providers unless one party to an agreement requests intervention. Alternative service providers have started to take advantage of the market liberalization. In fall 2007, Sunrise Communications installed its first shared local exchange station with Swisscom. Sunrise plans to build a nationwide fixed network and will install equipment in 120 local exchanges in 2008 and plans to roll out ats network to 80% of Swiss households by 2010. However, in January 2008, Swisscom challenged Comcom’s ruling of November 2007 that upheld Bitstream access for alternative suppliers. A ruling is pending with the Federal Administrative Court.

Import Requirements and Documentation

All imported goods must be presented to the appropriate Customs office and declared for clearance. Goods imported into Switzerland must be declared within the following time limits from arrival in the country by various means of transportation: road, 24 hours; river, 48 hours; rail, 7 days; and air, 7 days. The importer may examine goods before submitting them for clearance. For Swiss Customs purposes, an ordinary commercial invoice in duplicate or triplicate is considered sufficient documentation. The invoice should contain the following details: description of the products and packaging, gross and net weight of each package, quantity (in metric terms), country of origin, and CIF value to the Swiss border. As Swiss duties are specific, indication of value is required only for statistical purposes. No consular or other stamp is required.

For practical purposes, almost all commercial shipments are handled by forwarding companies, which, in most cases, also are legally empowered to act as Customs agents. They handle the Customs clearance, including the VAT and any applicable duties. The Customs agent pays the VAT, duties and other fees on behalf of the importer and then invoices the total cost as well as a service fee to the importer. Shipments sent by courier are handled in the same manner.

Swiss importers are able to counsel suppliers with information on Swiss requirements to facilitate documentation on the Swiss side. A certificate of origin is not normally required unless preferential duty rates are requested; however, one may be required for health reasons (meats and plants) or for reasons of quality control as with appellation wine.

Special health certificates, stamped by the competent authorities of the country of origin, are required for the import of horses, bovine animals, farm animals, certain domestic animals, bees and eggs for hatching, meat, game, seafood, beeswax and comb honey. Official plant health certificates of the country of origin must accompany shipments of some vegetables, fresh fruits, and wild plants. For more information, please consult the websites below.

Federal Office for Agriculture
Swiss Federal Veterinary Office

Seafood: Imports of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins and products the Swiss public health certificate number 96/12b is required. This form can be downloaded from the website of the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office.
http://www.bvet.admin.ch/einfuhr/00243/00247/00794/index.html?lang=en

Import licenses are required only for a limited number of products. These generally fall into the two categories of measures to protect local agriculture production and measures of state control. To protect the agriculture sector and to maintain a degree of independence from external supplies, Switzerland imposes quantitative restrictions on agricultural imports. Products under these restrictions include cattle, meat, milk and dairy products, indigenous fresh fruit and vegetables, seasonal cut flowers, cereals and forage products, wine and grape juice. More information is available through the Federal Office of Agriculture.

Federal Office for Agriculture

Products subject to a quota require import licenses, which are granted only to importers based in Switzerland. Most quotas vary from year to year according to the size of harvests, volume of stocks and market requirements. Import licenses are also required for certain products not subject to quotas, but which are covered by special regulations concerned with public health, plant health, quarantine (plants), veterinary regulations; regulations concerning the protection of species, safety measures, price control (for certain textile products); and measures for the protection of the Swiss economy and public morality.

More detailed information on import requirements is available from the Swiss Customs Office at http://www.ezv.admin.ch/index.html. (Website only in German, French and Italian.)

U.S. Export Controls

The Government of Switzerland regulates the export, import, and transit of goods usable for civilian and military purposes and is an active member of all major export control regimes, including the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), the Australia Group (AG) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

The Office of Export Controls and Sanctions within the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is responsible for implementation of Swiss commitments pursuant to the multilateral export control regimes. SECO can deny an export license if there is reason to assume that goods proposed for export would be used for the development, production, or use of biological or chemical weapons; serve for the development, production, or use of nuclear weapons or of an unmanned missile for the delivery of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons or the proliferation of such weapons; or contribute to the conventional armaments of a state, which, by its behavior, endangers regional or global security.

As a UN member, Switzerland follows UN provisions for export licensing controls. In certain cases, where there is a high likelihood of diversion of goods to WMD or missile uses, the Government of Switzerland applies the “catch-all” provisions of its export control law to deny the export of goods not specifically included on any export control list.

The Government of Switzerland cooperates with the U.S. and other governments to avoid the diversion of Swiss exports for use in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or missile uses. An export control dialogue is part of the U.S.-Swiss Joint Economic Commission (JEC). These meetings have served to move forward discussions on ways to strengthen the Wassenaar Agreement and other WMD control systems.

More detailed information is available on-line at: www.seco.admin.ch.

Temporary Entry

Imported goods that are destined for re-export may be cleared on the basis of a "Begleitschein" or “free-pass” certificate. The importer must apply for the certificate from the Customs Administration and provide surety for the Customs charges applicable to the imported goods. The certificate must be presented to Customs within the stipulated time with the goods in unchanged condition for re-export.

Goods transiting Switzerland must be declared for clearance at the point-of-entry Customs office and be covered by a national or international transit document (bond note, TIR carnet, T1/T2 dispatch declaration, or international waybill). These goods must be re-exported intact within the designated time limit. No transit duties or fees are levied.

A transit permit is required only for narcotic drugs, armaments, nuclear fuels, and nuclear fuel residues. In the case of direct transit by rail, the railway authorities guarantee duties and taxes. The issuing authority is the guarantor of road transit covered by a TIR carnet. A surety or financial deposit is required for transit covered by a bond note or transit through the EU covered by a T1/T2 dispatch declaration.

Goods temporarily imported or exported for processing or repair may be eligible for a reduction in duty or duty-free treatment granted on the basis of the economic interests of Swiss industry. Authorization is granted only to residents who do the processing or repair themselves or who commission a third party. Authorization is for particular goods that are to undergo specified processing. Special conditions may be imposed for Customs handling and supervision.

Goods for display at public exhibitions are eligible for free passage (Freipass) through Swiss customs. Certification from the trade fair authorities that the goods are entering Switzerland for the exhibition is usually required. Exhibition goods must be re-exported within a month of the end of the exhibition. If the goods are sold to a Swiss resident off the exhibition floor, the buyer incurs a liability for the customs charges. Almost all fairgrounds have a Customs office on site.

Labeling and Marking Requirements

Swiss labeling requirements apply mostly to food products. False descriptions are strictly prohibited. As a rule, the label or packaging for consumer goods must indicate the specific name of the product (in French, German or Italian), metric measure, sales price, unit price, weight of each component in the case of mixed products, and ingredients and additives in decreasing order of weight. All particulars of weight and measurements must comply with the regulations of the Federal Measurement Office (Eidgenosse Amt fuer Messwesen).

The Foodstuffs Ordinance specifies additional information that must be provided in the case of certain products, including the name of the manufacturer or distributor, country of origin of the product, and 'use by' date. A growing number of distributors prefer to provide additional information on their labels, such as the 'EAN code' for computerized data retrieval, and/or the nutritional or energy value of the product.

Switzerland’s food law is in general conformity with European Union food law. According to Swiss regulators, all standards are equal to or less strict than EU standards with the exception of standards for aflatoxins, microtoxins, and certain pesticides. Standards address acceptable levels of pesticides in water for drinking and food processing. The regulations cover all food products as well as tobacco and packaging and labeling standards.

For consideration of safety, health, environmental and consumer protection, as well as for compliance with international and national standards, certain products are subject to further regulations. Medicines, cosmetics, cleaning agents, electrical appliances, measuring and weighing devices, heating systems, pressure vessels and motorcycles that are imported into and marketed in Switzerland are subject to additional regulations concerning safety, labeling, and packaging.

Prohibited and Restricted Imports

The Swiss method of controlling unwanted imports is through the imposition of restrictions, quotas and other rules and regulations as noted previously in this chapter.

Customs Contact Information

Imported goods from the United States are subject to regular Swiss customs duties at the time of their importation. See also the sub-heading Import Tariffs.

Federal Customs Administration
Monbijoustrasse 40
3003 Bern
Tel. (41-31) 322 65 11, Fax. (41-31) 322 78 72
http://www.ezv.admin.ch (in German, French and Italian)

Standards

Overview

The free flow of goods and services is of vital importance for Switzerland, a country that earns some 50 percent of its GDP by foreign trade. The Swiss play an international active role in helping to reduce or eliminate relevant hurdles, particularly non-tariff barriers, with the exception of agricultural products. As a member of CEN (European agency for standards), Switzerland adopts any new European standards in reconciliation with any conflicting national standards. Switzerland applies “Harmonized European Standards” pertaining to health, safety and environmental criteria. All products covered by those standards must carry the CE label as a sign of compliance in all EU countries. However, Switzerland does not require the CE label on products for domestic (Swiss) use. Swiss manufacturers, if qualified, may use CE labels on their products.

All standards organizations in Switzerland are under the umbrella of SNV (Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung = Swiss Standards Association). SNV provides local manufacturers with guidance on worldwide standards, serves as the link to relevant European (CEN) and international organizations (ISO), and is responsible for introducing the Swiss position at conferences and meetings.

Standards Organizations

Major organizations/agencies with programs to propose and/or implement standards:

SNV – Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung
Bürglistrasse 29, CH 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland
Phone +41 52 224 5454; Fax +41 52 224 5474; http://www.snv.ch
Association serving as the national umbrella for all Swiss organizations interested in standards. Provides guidance on new standards. Publishes new standards in its “SNV Bulletin” (instead of a “National Gazette”)

Electrosuisse, SEV Verband für Elektro- Energie- und Informationstechnik
Luppmenstrasse 1, CH-8320 Fehraltdorf, Switzerland
Phone +41 1 956 1111; Fax +41 1 956 1122; http://www.electrosuisse.ch
Sector covered: electrical savety standards, electromagnetic emissions

SIA, Schweiz. Ingenieur- & Architektenverein
Selnaustrasse 16, P.O. Box, CH-8039 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 1 283 1515; Fax +41 1 20-1 6335; http://www.sia.ch
Sector covered: building standards (above and underground construction, cultural aspects, environmental critera, insulation, air-cond/heating/safety)

VSS, Schweiz. Verband der Strassen- und Verkehrsfachleute
Seefeldstrasse 9, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Phone +41 1 269 4020; Fax +41 1 252 3130; http://www.vss.ch
Sector covered: traffic safety, planning of public and private sector transportation networks, energy efficiency, signaling, safety in tunnels, financing

SVGW, Schweiz. Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches
Grütlistrasse 44, P.O. Box 658, CH-8027 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 1 288 3333; Fax +41 1 202 1633; http://www.svgw.ch
Sector covered: quality standards of processes and equipment for drinking water and natural gas

VSA, Verband Schweiz. Abwasser- und Gewässerschutzfachleute
Strassburgstrasse 10, P.O. Box 2443, CH-8026 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 1 241 2585; Fax +41 1 241 61 29; http://www.vsa.ch
Sector covered: sewage treatment and water pollution control

BUWAL, Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald & Landschaft
Papiermühlestrasse 172, CH-3003 Bern-Ittigen, Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 322 9311; Fax +41 31 322 9981; http://www.uvek.admin.ch

SICTA, Swiss Information & Communications Technology Association
Laupenstrasse 18a, CH-3008 Bern, Switzerland
Phone +41 31 380 1180; +41 31 380 1181; http://www.sicta.ch
Sector covered: Communications equipment

BAKOM, Swiss Federal Office for Communications
Zukunftsstrasse 44, P.O. Box 1003, CH-2501 Biel, Switzerland
Phone +41 32 327 5511; Fax +41 32 5555
Sector covered: telecommunications incl. radio and TV; http://www.uvek.admin.ch

Swissmem, ASM Verband Schweiz. Arbeitgeber der Maschinenindustrie
Kirchenweg 4, P.O. Box, CH-8032 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 1 384 4111; Fax +41 1 384 4242; http://www.swissmem.ch
Sector covered: industrial machinery such as machine tools, textile machines, packaging machine, power generating and distribution equipment etc.

Interpharma, Verband forschender Pharmafirmen in der Schweiz
Petersgraben 35, P.O. Box CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Phone +41 61 264 3400; Fax: +41 61 264 3401; http://www.interpharma.ch
Secor covered: manufacturers of pharmaceuticals with own research departments

SWISSMEDIC, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products
Erlachstrasse 8, CH-3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
Phone +41 31 322 0211; Fax +41 31 322 0212; http://www.swissmedic.ch
Sector covered: Swiss government agency comparaeble to the U.S. FDA

SUVA, Schweiz. Unfallversicherungsanstalt
Fluhmattstrasse 1, CH-6002 Luzern, Switzerland
Phone +41 41 419 5111; Fax +41 41 419 5828; http://www.suva.ch
Sector covered: occupational safety, agency comparable to U.S. OSHA

BAG – Swiss Public Health Agency
Schwarzenburgstrasse 165, CH-3097 Bern, Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 322 2111; Fax +41 31 322 9507; http://www.edi.admin.ch
Sector covered: public health

NIST Notify U.S. Service
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets. Register online at Internet URL: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus/

Some 1,500 people are performing standards related work for individual companies or relevant associations. There are a considerable number of groups and associations, in addition to those listed above, which are developing and proposing standards. Particularly active are consumer organizations and environmentalist groups. Their input will be submitted to CEN (via the SNV) in case the particular items are not yet covered by existing standards.

Conformity Assessment

Conformity assessment is controlled by a multitude of laboratories and companies that must be accredited by a Swiss Government Agency known as “SAS” (in German = Schweizerische Akkreditierungsstelle). This agency is comparable to the U.S. NIST and includes its own extensive testing laboratories. It is the sole authority that provides relevant laboratories and companies with the accreditation to certify products in specific areas according to ISO/EC 17000 and series EN 45000. The accreditation procedure is a complex process that includes the physical inspection of the laboratories and equipment, the staffing, and the organization per se in terms of its independence and possible conflicts of interest.

Name and address:
Swiss Fed. Office for Metrology and Accreditation
Lindenweg 50
CH-3003 Bern-Wabern, Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 3233111; Fax +41 31 323 3210; http://www.sas.ch

Product Certification

Product certification is covered by laboratories and companies licensed or accredited by SAS. All relevant laboratories and companies are listed by sector on the SAS website http://www.sas.ch (in English).

Underwriter Laboratories (UL) maintains its own Swiss office in Schwerzenbach as follows:

UL International (Schweiz) AG (Mr. Martin Fies, GM)
Ringstrasse 1
CH-8604 Schwerzenbach
Phone: +41 43 355 4020; Fax +41 34 355 40 39; info@ch.ul.com; http://www.ul-europe.com

Accreditation

The accreditation of relevant laboratories is controlled exclusively by the Swiss Government Agency SAS (see above). http://www.sas.ch

Publication of Technical Regulations

SNV (see above) publishes all new norms in its “SNV Bulletin” in a dedicated section called “SWITEC”.  Nearly all new standards published in the SNV Bulletin are standards that have been processed and approved first by CEN. 

Labeling and Marking

Generally, labeling and marking requirements follow EU regulations (CE labeling). However, Switzerland does not require the CE label on products intended solely for domestic (Swiss) use. http://www.newapproach.org

Trade Agreements

Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).  EFTA members maintain their own external tariffs, although tariff duties on trade in industrial products among member countries have been eliminated.  Although not a member of the European Union (EU), Switzerland has bilateral agreements with the EU that guarantee many of the same economic advantages and lowered barriers to trade that EU members enjoy.  Preferential or duty-free rates apply to goods imported from the EU-EFTA free trade area when an importer makes a request on the import declaration and produces a certificate of origin.  The Swiss also accord tariff preferences under the GSP to developing countries.

The United States and Switzerland have strong bilateral ties.  Switzerland is a key supporter of the United States on a number of political and economic issues, particularly matters within the World Trade Organization.  Geneva is host to the WTO, several UN agencies, and other international bodies.  In 2006, the United States and Switzerland formed the “Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum” in order to address and achieve progress in trade topics of mutual interest.       

Web Resources