G/TFA/N/CHE/2/Rev.1  
8 October 2020  
(20-6924) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION UNDER  ARTICLES 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 AND 12.2.2  
OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE  FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM SWITZERLAND  
Revision  
The following communication, dat ed 8 October  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Switzerland hereby makes the following notifications in accordance with  Articles 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 
and 12.2.2 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
The purpose of the  updates is to take account  of the following : 
1. A number of measures adopted by Switzerland in response to the COVID -19 pandemic. For 
ease of reference, the revised parts are in bold and relate to measures notified under Article 1.1(a) 
of the Trade Facilitation Agreement . 
2. The update  of the  URLs of websites referred to in Article 1.4(a), subparagraphs ( a) and (b), 
and A rticle 1 .4(b). 
 
Article 1, paragraph 4 (a) 
The official place(s) where the items in subparagraphs 1.1(a) to (j) have been published;  
(a) procedures for importation, exportat ion, and transit (including port, airport, and other 
entry -point procedures), and required forms and documents ; 
Federal Customs 
Administration 
Guidelines, see section 
"Information companies"  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home.html  
Information on 
procedures  for 
importation, exportation 
and transit , and on 
required  forms and 
documents  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/infos -pour-entreprises/declarer -des-
marchandises.html  G/TFA/N/CHE/2/Rev.1  
 
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  COVID -19 – Import -related measures (goods ) 
Use of priority lanes 
for road t ransport  
(known as "Green 
Lanes ") for certain 
categories of goods  
 
DATE : 29.4.2020  
 Regulation 10-27 
The "green lanes " established at certain border crossings  for important goods 
(such as  medical products, foodstuffs , mail, fuels, and  packaging material and 
machine parts for the medical and food industries ) remain in place . 
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/dam/ezv/fr/dokumente/verfahren -
betrieb/Aufgabenvollzug/Dokumentation/R -10%20Zollverfahren/r -10-
27_vorrangige_fahrspuren.pdf.download.p df/R-10-
27_Vorrangige_Fahrspuren_f.pdf  
HS codes  
Medical devices  
Respiration apparatus  
Systems for assessing the condition  and functions of the body  
In vitro d iagnos tics ("COVID -19 tests") 
Surgical masks /OP masks  
Surgical gloves /examination gloves  
Medical oxygen  
Infusion solutions  
Personal protective equipment  
Surgical masks  
Protective masks  
Single -use gloves  
Gowns  
Protective clothing  
Protective g oggle s 
Hand sanitizer  
Surface disinfectant  
Hygiene items for intensive care  medicine  (such as medical absorbent  mats, 
diaper s, faecal  management systems , and oral and throat hygiene  items ) 
Medicines  
Chapter 30 
Foodstuffs  
Chapters 1 to 23, excluding goods containing alcohol and manufactured tobacco  
Fuel of all kinds  
Chapter 27 
Machin ery and spare parts  
Only if they are to be used in the medical and food industries  
Packaging material  
Only if it is to be used in the medical and food industries  
Letter and pa rcel post  
In accordance with the Universal Postal Convention  
Simplification of 
customs procedures : 
Advance customs 
declaration  
 
DATE : 29.4.2020  
 Regulation 10-00 
Customs declarant s may carry out Swiss clearance formalities  prior to the arrival 
of the  mode of  transport . To do so , customs declarant s send a pre -declaration. 
This is equivalent to a final custom s declaration, the only difference being that it is 
sent prior to the arrival of the consignment , so that it is easier for goods to cross 
the border at off-peak times . 
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/dam/ezv/fr/dokumente/verfahren -
betrieb/Aufgabenvollzug/Dokumentation/R -10%20Zollverfahren/R -10-
00%20Einfuhrzollveranlagungsverfahren.pdf.download.pdf/R -10-00.pdf  
Electronic 
communication  
 
DATE : 1.7.2020 E-Begleitdokument and E-Com 
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/declaration -en-douane/declaration -pour-
entreprises/e -begleitdokument.html  G/TFA/N/CHE/2/Rev.1  
 
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  COVID  -19 – Export -related measures (goods ) 
Simplification of 
export procedures 
(Libero Export)  
 
DATE : 29.4.2020  
 Regulation R-10-26 
The "Libero Export " procedure, which simplifie s export procedure s at border 
customs offices, has recently been introduced across Switzerland (as far as is 
logistically possible ). The customs declarant  selects the export customs declaration 
and may export consignments selected as "free" without carrying out additional 
Swiss customs formalities . The submission of customs documents  to Swiss 
windows , as well as the resulting  waiting times , will thus gradually be eliminated . 
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/dam/ezv/fr/dokumente/verfahren -
betrieb/Aufgabenvollzug/Dokumentation/R -10%20Zollverfahren/r -10-
26_libero_export.pdf.download.pdf/R -10-26_Libero_Export_f.pdf  
(b) applie d rates of duties and taxes of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation or 
exportation ; 
Publications  Customs 
Tariff - Tares  www.tares.ch  
WTO Tariff Analysis 
Online facility  https://tao.wto.org/welcome.aspx?ReturnUrl=/&ui=2   
Fact sheets for 
companies  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/documentation/publications.html  
(c) fees and charges imposed by or for governmental agencies on or in connection with importation, 
exportation or transit ; 
SR 631.035;  
Ordinance on Federal 
Customs Administration 
fees https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified -compilation/20070442/index.html  
(d) rules for the classification or valuation of products for customs purposes ; 
Publications  Customs 
Tariff - Tares  www.tares.ch  
(e) laws, regulations, and administrative rulings of general application relating to rules of origin ; 
GSP – Rules of Origin 
Ordinance  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/dokumentation/rechtsgrundlagen/freihan
delsabkommen --entwicklungslaender --aps-gps-.html 
Non-preferential o rigin https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/dokumentation/rechtsgrundlagen/rechtlic
he-grundlagen -fuer-den-nicht-praeferenziellen -ursprung.html  
Free trade agreements, 
preferential tariffs and 
origin of goods  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/dokumentation/richtlinien/d -30-
freihandelsabkommen --zollpraeferenzen -und-warenursprung.html  
(f) import, export or transit restrictions or prohibitions ; 
See QR notification  G/MA/QR/N/CHE/1  
(g) penalty provisions for breaches of import, export, or transit formalities ; 
Customs Law, penal  
provisions  https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified -compilation/20030370/index.html#id -8 
(h) procedures for appeal or review ; 
Information on appeals  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/declaration -en-douane/recours --mode -d-
emploi.html  G/TFA/N/CHE/2/Rev.1  
 
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  (i) agreements or parts thereof with any country or countries relating to importation, exportation, 
or transit ; 
Free Trade Agreements  https://www.seco.admin.ch /seco/fr/home/Aussenwirtschaftspolitik_Wirtschaftliche
_Zusammenarbeit/Wirtschaftsbeziehungen/Freihandelsabkommen.html  
Tariff preferences and 
preferential origins  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/info s-pour-entreprises/exonerations --
allegements --preferences -tarifaires -et-contributio/importation -en-suisse/accords -
de-libre-echange --origine -preferentielle.html  
Law on the collection of 
duties  https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified -compilation/0.63.html  
(j) procedures relating to the administration of tariff quotas ; 
Federal Customs 
Administration, see Tariff 
Quotas  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/information -firmen/verbote --
beschraenkungen -und-auflagen/wirtschaftliche -und-landwirtschaftliche -
massnahmen/zollkontingente.html  
Federal Office for 
Agriculture, see Tariff 
Quotas  https://www.blw.admin.ch/blw/fr/home/markt/einfuhr -von-agrarprodukten.html  
Legal basis for tariff 
quotas  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/dokumentation/rechtsgrundlagen/nichtzol
lrechtliche -aufgaben/zollkontingente.html  
See A G notifications  G/AG/N/CHE/13/Add.17  and G/AG/N/CHE/13/Add.18  
Article 1, paragraph 4 (b) 
The Uniform Resource Locators of website(s) referred to in paragraph 2. 1; 
A description of its procedures for importation, exportation, and transit, including procedures for 
appeal or review, that informs governments, traders, and other interested parties of the practical 
steps needed for importation, exportation, and transit ; 
Federal Customs 
Administration 
Guidelines, see Section 
"Information Companies"  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home.html?_organization=606  
Information on 
procedures for 
importation, exportation 
and transit, and on 
required forms and 
documents  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/infos -pour-entreprises/declarer -des-
marchandises.html  
Information on appeals  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/declaration -en-douane/recours --mode -d-
emploi.html  
The forms and documents required for importation into, exportation from, or transit through the 
territory of that Member ; 
Federal Customs 
Administration 
Guidelines, see Section 
"Information Companies  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/hom e.html?_organization=606   
Information on 
procedures for 
importation, exportation 
and transit, and on 
required forms and 
documents  https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/infos -pour-entreprises/declarer -des-
marchandises.html  G/TFA/N/CHE/2/Rev.1  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Article 1, paragraph 4 (c) 
Contact information on its enquiry point(s);  
Federal Customs 
Administration's contact 
page https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/fr/home/l -afd/contact.html  
Article 10, paragraph 4.3  
Members shall notify the Committee of the details of operation of the single window . 
 
Information on Switzerland's Single Window Operations  
In Switzerland, there is basically only one governmental authority present at the border: Customs. 
Customs – besides being responsible for the correct levy of the customs duties – is responsible for 
the enforcement of about 150 decrees concerning non -customs laws. The duties are amongst others: 
formal checks of goods, release of goods only after submission of a p ermit (issued by another 
authority) or refusal of import or export of certain goods.  
 
Switzerland operates a One Stop Shop at all its Customs offices with a physical Single Window that 
is supported to a very large extent by ICT. A fully fledged electronic Single Window will be put in 
place in the coming years. For more information please refer to: 
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/home/topics/projects/dazit.html . 
Article 10, paragraph 6.2  
Each Member shall notify the Committee and publish its measures on the use of customs brokers . 
In Switzerland, there is no obligation to use a customs broker.  
See Article 26 of the Customs Act  
https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified -compilation/20030370/index.html  
 
In liaison with  Article 75 of the Customs Ordinance  
https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/classified -compilation/20052713/index.html  
Article 12, paragraph 2.2  
Each Member shall notify the Committee of the details of its contact point  for the exchange of this  
information . 
Directorate General of Customs  
Division for Penal Matters and Appeals  
3003 Bern  
Switzerland  
ozd.zefa -zentrale@ezv.admin.ch  
 
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