International destination listing

An import permit is required for many goods. Before posting any item, senders should confirm that the addressee has any necessary permit. Senders should determine import restrictions from the country's authorities before posting:

• animals and animal products
• articles of wood
• alcohol
• butter
• carpets
• clocks and watches
• feathers and down
• fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic invertebrates
• hides and skins, raw
• leather
• live animals
• live insects, acarida and nematodes
• metals, precious, articles made of
• narcotics
• plant products
• pharmaceutical products
• salt
• serums and vaccines
• shoulder rifles (exception of hunting/sporting)
• vegetable products
• young potatoe plants
• weapons
• works of art, collector's pieces and antiques.

Intellectual Property Rights

Switzerland is a signatory to the European Patent Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty and protects the rights of those holding patents from other member countries as well as those of their citizens. Strong protection is also afforded to trademarks and service marks as well as other intellectual property rights.

Swiss law permits the owner or authorized licensee to object to the importation of goods that allegedly infringe upon their intellectual property rights. The request must be presented in writing to Customs and include a number of details including a copy of the registration document and a precise description of the goods. Requests are subject to a fee, and Customs requires surety in case a third party claims damages. Customs will investigate and, if the objection is supported, will seize the offending goods. Information regarding the fee and the details to be included in the request are available on the Customs website under Importation Notices.

Gifts

Exemption from duty and tax is granted to unsolicited gift shipments valued at 100 CHF per person or less providing they are between private parties and do not contain tobacco, liquor, coffee, tea, oil, meat or poultry products.

Prohibited Items

In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:

• absinthe and related products
• anathestic
• cash and securities
• counterfeit items
• cultural hertiage
• lottery tickets
• foreign currency
• offensive items and propaganda
• plant products infested by pests or pathogenic agents
• potatoes of non European origin
• medication
• radar detectors (Although these goods are forbidden for import and export, they may be designated for return if properly requested and declared to customs and the goods have not already been given a directive to be destroyed.)
• spying devices, miniature.

Documentation Required

Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.

Commercial Invoice

Required for all import and export shipments. The gross weight of the goods is required including the net weight may benefit the importer by reducing duty or taxes on certain goods and may exempt certain low weight shipments from license or permit requirements.

Certificate of Origin

Certificates of Origin are used by Switzerland to determine shipments eligible for preferential duty treatment. The EUR1 form is required under trade agreements with certain European trade groups. The GSP Form A is required when preferential treatment under World Trade Organization agreements is requested for shipments from developing countries. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in the possession of the importer at the time of entry. Copies are not acceptable. The country of origin of the goods must also be detailed on the commercial invoice.

Declarations / Notifications

Certain goods require that the importer or exporter provide the government with particular shipment information after customs clearance of the goods. These goods may be exempt from license or other regulatory requirements.

Import Approval

Certain goods require import approval from one or more government ministries. The importer must submit an application form to the regulating ministry, which will apply its stamp/seal to the import approval application form when it grants approval. Although there is one primary import approval application form, certain commodities (textiles, whale products, food, plant products, animal products, etc.) require a form specific to the commodity.

Phytosanitary Certificate

This is certification from the appropriate government agency in the country of export that certifies that the plant or plant product is free from disease. Swiss regulations may also require that the foreign agency certify that the area in which the plant was grown or processed is free from particular pests or diseases.

Veterinary Certificate

This is certification from the appropriate government agency in the country of export that the animal or meat product is disease free and/or that the area where the animal lived or the product was processed is free from particular pests or diseases.

Taxation of Mail Order Platforms

Mail order platforms and marketplaces are subject to VAT if they:

• have their headquarters in Switzerland or provide supplies in Switzerland; AND
• generate at least CHF 100,000 revenue per year in Switzerland and/or abroad from supplies that are not exempt from VAT.

The taxation applies to all sizes of consignments and C2C supplies. More information about the requirements for mail order platforms can be found here.

Mail order platforms that are subject to VAT must register in advance with the Federal Tax Administration (FTA). Detailed steps can be found here.

Swiss Post recommends that mail order platforms apply for a CSP account with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) to enable automated invoicing of import tax. When using the Swiss Post CSP account, a fee of 2% of the import tax amount (minimum CHF 10.00 per consignment) will be charged.

Mail order platforms must also register with Swiss Post as a new customer and for a Post CH Ltd customer invoice prior to the first dispatch.

In order for these consignments to be identified during customs clearance, the following must be provided.

• An additional label used to identify the name of the foreign mail order platform and its UID VAT number (format: company ID (UID) VAT number).
• This label should not be less than 5 cm in length and 2 cm in height. Example: XYZ Trading Platform UID VAT: CHE-123.456.789
• The address of the mail order platform with which it has registered with the Federal VAT Authority (FTA) and which is listed in the Swiss VAT register must be provided to the importer as XYZ Trading Platform.
• An invoice indicating the domestic tax or a proforma invoice attached to the outside of the consignment in a document pouch that contains the UID VAT number.
• The UID VAT number must be included when creating the electronic shipping label, entered in the “Tax ID” field (sender.identification.reference), allowing for the number to be sent electronically. If the number is not present in the electronic data, VAT may be collected from the recipient at the time of delivery.
• The following Canada Post shipping systems can be used to pass the UID VAT number:
• EST Desktop 2.0
• SnapShip
• Shipping Manager
• The UID VAT number cannot be transmitted electronically when using a retail location.