G/STR/N/18/CHE  
 
17 September 2020  
(20-6251) Page: 1/5 
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 PARAGRAPH 1 OF THE UNDERSTANDING ON  
THE INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLE XVII  
SWITZERLAND  
The following communication, dated 10 September 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Swit zerland.  
 
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Pursuant to Article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994 and paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the 
Interpretation of Article XVII, and in response to the call for notifications se t forth in document 
G/STR/N/18, Switzerland submits the following new and full notification of its state trading 
enterprises for the years 2018 and 2019.  
I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES  
Until 31 December 2018: Swiss Alcohol Board, through its profit centre "alcosuisse"; Federal 
Department of Finance.  
"Alcosuisse" has been acquired by "Thommen Furler" and thus privatized as of 30 June 2018. The 
import monopoly of ethanol containing over 80% by volume was lifted on 31 December 2018.  
II. REASON AND PURPOSE  
The Alcohol Legislation, which is concerned with 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 Constitution, 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 legislation aims at reducing 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 containing not more than 80 per cent by 
volume without restriction and without any permit. The taxes, fixed by the Federal Cou ncil, 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 % by volu me. 
However, imports by the private sector are possible subject to prior authorization by the 
Alcohol  Board.  G/STR/N/18/CHE  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Inside the country, ethanol and spirits are not produced by the Alcohol  Board itself, but by the 
private sector which, for control reasons, has bee n granted a concession (industrial and professional 
producers, farmers, small producers).  
Industrial distilleries and spirits 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 sold by "alcosuisse" are fixed by the Federal Council. 
Ethanol intended for consumption purposes is subject t o 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 Boar d are concentrated on the domestic market. Therefore the quantity exported by the 
Alcohol Board is not important (see Table II, exports).  
VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (AS APPROPRIATE)  
Since 2009 Switzerland has no national production of ethanol with alcohol content that exceeds 80 % 
by volume.  
  
  G/STR/N/18/CHE  
 
- 3 - TABLE I  
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, IMPORTS, Year 2018  
Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s))  Total quantity 
imported  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  765'919 hl  765'919 hl  USD / hl  
92.99  USD / hl  
114.19  - - 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing  
2207.2000  3'427  hl 3'427  hl USD / hl  
161.42  USD / hl  
100.32  - - 
 
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/18/CHE  
 
- 4 - TABLE II 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, EXPORTS, Year 2018  
Description of product(s)  
(including HS number(s))  Total quantity 
exported1 Quantity exported by  
state trading 
enterprise1 Average 
procurement price2 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  4'245 hl - USD / hl  
92.99  USD / hl  
114.19  USD / hl  
253.23  - 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing  
2207.2000  867 hl  - USD / hl  
161.42  USD / hl  
100.32  USD / hl  
317.76  - 
 
1 In cases where no exports have taken place under columns 2 or 3, provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire . 
2 In cases where the initial procurement price is augmented by other payments, additional payments should also be reported.   
  G/STR/N/18/CHE  
 
- 5 - TABLE III  
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD  
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES, Year 2018  
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  - - 9 437.02 hl  9 437.02 hl  
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or intended for 
denaturing  2207.2000  - - 423 098.34 hl  423 098.34 hl  
 
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