WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/STR/N/10/CHE 
5 July 2004 
 (04-2868) 
Working Party on 
State Trading Enterprises Original:   English 
 
 
 
STATE TRADING 
 
New and Full Notification Pursuant to Article XVII:4(a)  
of the GATT 1994 and Paragra ph 1 of the Understanding on  
the Interpretation of Article XVII  
 
SWITZERLAND 
  
 The following communication, dated 30 June 2004,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Switzerland.  
_______________ 
 
 I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES 
 
 Swiss Alcohol Board; Federal Department of Finance.   
II. REASON AND PURPOSE 
 
 The Alcohol Legislation, which is concerned w ith the manufacture, rectification and import of 
spirits and ethanol, was established in Switzerland for public health reasons. 
  It is based on Article 105 of the Federal Cons titution, which gives the Federation the sole right 
to legislate in this field. Pursuant to that constitutional basis, the Federal Assembly promulgated the 
Federal Law on Alcohol of 21 June 1932.  This le gislation aims at reduc ing the production and 
consumption of spirits. 
 
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE 
  The private sector is allowed to  import ethanol and spirits contai ning not more than 80 per cent 
by volume without restriction and without any permit.  The taxes, fixed by the Federal Council, have to 
be paid on imported goods as well as on the domestic production. 
 For control reasons, the Swiss Confederation, through alcosuisse, a profit centre of the Alcohol 
Board, is entitled to import ethanol whose alcohol content exceeds 80 per cent by volume.  However, 
imports by the private sector are possible subjec t to prior authorization by the Alcohol Board. 
 Inside the country, ethanol and spirits are not produced by the Al cohol Board itself, but by the 
private sector which, for control reasons, has be en granted a concession (industrial and professional 
producers, farmers, small producers). G/STR/N/10/CHE 
Page 2  
 
  Industrial distilleries and spirit s producers are allowed to market  their products directly subject 
to payment of the taxes.  This trade is subject to authorization. 
 Ethanol is bought and sold by alcosuisse at the market price of the various qualities imported or 
produced in Switzerland.  The prices for ethanol so ld by alcosuisse are fixed by the Federal Council. 
Ethanol intended for consumption purposes is subject to a tax. 
 
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATION ( SEE ATTACHED TABLES I - III)  
 
 See Annex.  V. REASON WHY NO FOREIGN TRADE HAS TAKEN PLACE ( AS APPROPRIATE)  
As the Alcohol Legislation is established for public health reasons, the commercial activities 
of the Alcohol Board are concentrated on the domes tic market.  Therefore the quantity exported by 
the Alcohol Board is not important (see Table II, exports).  VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ( AS APPROPRIATE) 
 
 Nil of note.  
  G/STR/N/10/CHE
 Page 3TABLE I 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION,  IMPORTS, Year 2003 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total quantity 
imported1 Quantity imported by 
state trading 
enterprise1 Average import price Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Mark-up2 National production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl 
alcohol of an 
alcoholic strength by 
volume of 80% 
volume or higher 
2207.1000 256'587 hl 256'587 hl 58.70 USD / hl 133.76 USD / hl - 117'293 hl 
(not produced by the 
Swiss Alcohol 
Board) 
Ethyl alcohol, 
denatured or intended 
for denaturing 
2207.2000 23'923 hl 21’369 hl 64.29 USD / hl 75.92 USD / hl - 0 
 
                                                      
1 In  cases where no imports have taken place under columns 2 or 3, provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire . 
2 Members may report either under columns 4 and 5 or under column 6.  
 G/STR/N/10/CHE 
Page 4 TABLE II 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, EXPORTS, Year 2003 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total quantity 
exported3 Quantity exported by 
state trading 
enterprise1 Average procurement 
price4 Average  
representative 
domestic sales price Average export price National production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl 
alcohol of an 
alcoholic strength by 
volume of 80% 
volume or higher 
2207.1000 352 hl - 58.70 USD / hl 133.76 USD / hl 1’073.07 USD / hl 117'293 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, 
denatured or intended 
for denaturing 
2207.2000 4'776 hl 72 hl 64.29 USD / hl 75.92 USD / hl 170.62 USD / hl - 
 
                                                      
3In cases where no exports have taken place under columns 2 or 3,  provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire. 
4In cases where the initial procurement price is augmented by other payments, additional paymen ts should also be reported.  
  G/STR/N/10/CHE
 Page 5TABLE III 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, DOME STIC ACTIVITIES, Year 2003 
 
 
Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Domestic purchases by 
state trading enterprise National production Domestic sales by 
state trading enterprise National consumption 
1 2 3 4 5 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of 
an alcoholic strength by 
volume of 80% volume or 
higher 
2207.1000  117'293 hl 117'293 hl 12’151 hl 12’151 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing 
2207.2000  0 0 388’051 hl 388’051 hl 
 
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