WT/MIN(21)/INF/9/Rev.1  
 
23 November  2021 
(21-8823) Page: 1/5 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 30 November -3 December 2021  Original: English  
 
NOTE TO DELEGATIONS  
COVID -RELATED MEASURES IN THE MC12 VENUES  
Revision  
The Revision contains the following amendments:  
 
- Prices of Covid tests proposed by the WTO partner laboratory to MC12 participants are now 
indicated in paragraph 2.4;  
 
- Annex 1  has been revised by the Swiss Mission and now includes the procedure to be 
followed by holders of vaccines contained in the WHO list of COVID -19 vaccines for 
emergency use;  
 
- Annex 2  entitled "Overview of Swiss COVID certificate type s – MC12" has been added by the 
Swiss Mission."  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  GENERAL INFORMATION  
1.1.  This information note applies to all the officials  duly registered as attendees of the 
12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) , due to take place from 
30 November to 3 December 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland  (MC12 participants) . It is without 
prejudice to any additional measure that Swiss laws and regulations might require from MC12 
participants outside the MC12 venues.   
1.2.  Definition o f "MC12 venues":  
• the WTO headquarters (Centre William Rappard), its annexes and the  external  area within 
the security fence , and 
• the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG).  
 
1.3.  This note reflects changes made to Swiss rules after delegations were briefed on 
6 October  2021 and hence supersedes any information provided to delegates prior to the issuance 
of this note .  
1.4.  Taking into account the latest developments in the health situation in Switzerland and abroad , 
and bearing in mind the firm commitment  of the WTO Secretariat to create the safest possible 
environment for MC12 participants, access to the MC12 venues will be regulated in accordance with 
applicable Swiss rules on C OVID  in force at the time of MC12.  
1.5.  DEPENDING ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HEALTH SITUATION AND RELEVANT  SWISS  
RULES, THIS NOTE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGES  ON SHORT NOTICE.  WT/MIN(21)/INF/9/Rev.1  
 
- 2  
  1.6.  Consistent with Swiss law, a valid Swiss COVID certificate  will be required to enter the MC12 
venues  in order to  allow the relaxation of  the restrictions on social distancing , the optimization of 
the occupation capacity  of meeting rooms , and the intake of food and beverages . Information on 
how to obtain a Swiss COVID certificate can be found here: 
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche -epidemien -pandemien/aktuelle -
ausbrueche -epidemien/novel -cov/covid -zertifikat/covid -zertifikat -erhalt -gueltigkeit.html   
1.7.  COVID certificates will be systematically verified by the security personnel at the access points 
of the MC12 venues as of 29 November at 7 am. The verification will be executed in strict observance 
of the confidentiality of the attendees' medical information.  
The following additional COVID -related measures will apply in the MC12 venues:  
a. Compulsory hand disinfection (disinfectant dispensers wil l be made available to all MC12 
participants)  
b. Mask wearing  
c. Room disinfection after every meeting and systematic disinfection of all common areas.  
1.8.  Further details on Covid -related measures are found in the annex  to this note, as 
communicated by the Permanen t Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and other 
international organizations in Geneva . 
1.9.  Symptomatic and positive MC12 participants, as well as individuals who have been in contact 
with a person who has tested positive (contact cases), will be treated strictly according to relevant 
Swiss regulations and health protocols. Therefore, MC12 partic ipants who experience symptoms of 
COVID -19, or who tested positive, as well as contact cases, are kindly asked to scrupulously follow 
the measures indicated here: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche -
epidemien -pandemien/aktuelle -ausbrueche -epidemien/novel -cov/isolation -und-quarantaene.html   
2  COVID TESTING FACILITIES FOR M C12 PARTICIPANTS  
2.1.  The WTO Secretariat has collaborated with M3 Sanitrade to create two COVID testing centers 
that will be dedicated exclusively to MC12 participants. These testing centers will be located as 
follows:  
• At the Geneva Airport Reception and Proto col Service, exclusively for high -level foreign 
dignitaries plus one accompanying person.  This center will be operational from 26 to 
30 November at the following hours: 7am to 10pm  
 
• At the MC12 Accreditation Center, Centre de Conférences de Varembé (CCV),  Rue de 
Varembé 9 - 1202 Geneva. This center will be operational from 27 November to 3 December 
at the following hours: 9 am to 9 pm on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28, and 7 am to 8 pm for 
the rest of the week.  
 
2.2.  Each of the above testing facilities can perform PCR and antigenic tests that will generate a 
COVID certificate. As a reminder, the validity of PCR tests is 72 hours, while antigenic tests remain 
valid for 48 hours.  
2.3.  M3 Sanitrade commits to send the result of the test by email within the following time f rames:  
• 15 minutes for antigenic tests;  
• 24 hours for PCR tests. Limited options are available for a faster result within 1.5 hour or 
6 hours.  
 
2.4.  The costs of the tests shall be charged to MC12 participants. A special discounted rate has been 
negotiated by the  WTO Secretariat with M3 Sanitrade especially for MC12  (35 CHF for antigenic 
tests; 100 CHF for PCR tests) . 
2.5.  MC12 participants are free to test at any other authorized COVID test center  in Switzerland but 
will not receive the discounted rate. A list of testing facilities in the Geneva Canton is available here: 
https://www.ge.ch/en/covid -19-get-tested/where -can-one-be-tested -geneva  WT/MIN(21)/INF/9/Rev.1  
 
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  2.6.  MC12 participants wishing to do a COVID test at one of th e MC12 COVID test centers mentioned 
in paragraph 2.1 may book their preferred timeslot by contacting M3 Sanitrade at:  
https://eka.me/m3wto  
 
Booking is also available in two additional m3 testing cente rs: airport (term inal 2, open 7/7, 6am 
to 7pm), and city (Eaux -Vives train station, open 6/7, 7am to 7pm) at: www.m3 -test.ch   
 
Advance booking is highly recommended for high -level foreign dignitaries wishing to do a test upon 
arrival a t the Geneva Airport Reception and Protocol Service.  
 
 
_______________  
  
WT/MIN(21)/INF/9/Rev.1  
 
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  Annex 1  
 
 
 
Annex 1  
 
Procedures on how to register and to obtain a Swiss COVID certificate for the MC12  
 
Fill in an online e-démarches  application form available at the following link of the Canton of 
Geneva : 
 https://smc02.hug.ch/surveys/?s=WA39AEN9T3CYMK9W  
 
• Persons vaccinated abroad with a vaccine authorized by EMA  (the current list of concerned 
vaccines includes: Comirnaty Pfizer/BioNTech, SpikeVax (Moderna), Janssen (Johnson & 
Johnson) and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca))  
➔ They are invited to apply as soon as possible on the above -mentioned link to obtain a 
Swiss certificate.  
 
• Persons vaccinated abroad with a vaccine only listed by WHO for emergency  (current list of 
concerned vaccines includes: BBIBP -CorV (Sinopharm), Coron avac (Sinovac), CoviShield and 
Covaxin):  
➔ Registration will be opened on Monday 22 November at 12:00 (noon) on the above -
mentioned link.  
➔ On the 30 November, according to the preferences selected during the registration, an 
email and/or SMS in French or Eng lish will be addressed to the applicants with a link to 
upload their Swiss COVID certificates.  
 
Information required to complete the online application:  
• If applicable: information about your citizenship (e.g. copy of your passport or residence 
permit in S witzerland).  
• Reason, duration and place of stay in Switzerland.  
• Proof of residence or temporary stay, or proof of travel to Switzerland (e.g. plane ticket, train 
ticket or accommodation reservation).  
• For vaccinated persons: confirmation of vaccination (e.g . vaccination certificate with 
indication of the vaccine, number of doses received, date of last vaccination and name of the 
issuing country).  
• For people cured from COVID -19: information on the test center or institution where the test 
was conducted, the d ate and time of sample collection (not older than 180 days) and the type 
of test (only PCR tests are accepted).  
• Please upload a copy of the MC12 registration, or any other document indicating the 
attendance to MC12, so as to ensure a smooth process.  
NB. The required documents must be written in the Latin alphabet, in French, German, Italian or English  
 
EU digital COVID certificate , or other States whose QR codes are compatible with European or Swiss 
system , are recognized in Switzerland. Persons in possession of such a certificate do not have to apply 
for a Swiss certificate. For further information on Swiss Covid Certificates, please refer to the 
information sheet   of the Swiss Mission.  
 
 
Département fédéral des affaires étrangères DFAE  
Mission permanente de la Suisse auprès de l’Office 
des Nations Unies et des autres organisations 
internationales à Genève  
Section de la sécurité et des affaires générales   
  WT/MIN(21)/INF/9/Rev.1  
 
- 5 - Annexe 2 - Overview of Swiss COVID certificate types – MC 12  
 
*If you are not resident in Switzerland, you will be charged CHF 30. -  for your application to be processed.  
• EU digital COVID certificate , or other States whose QR codes are compatible with European or Swiss system , are recognized in Switzerland. Persons 
in possess ion of such a certificate do not have to apply for a Swiss certificate.  
• Cantonal General info line: 0800 909  400. Info line for testing: testing.covid@etat.ge.ch  
• Other cases please refer to the information av ailable here: https://www.ge.ch/document/26232/telecharger   Type of certificate  Conditions  Use in Switzerland  How to obtain a Swiss COVID  certificate  
Validity  Duration of 
validity  Opening of the 
registration  Processing time / Earliest date of 
delivery  Where to apply  
COVID -19 
vaccination  You are vaccinated in Switzerland.  
Yes 365 days 
from when 
the last 
vaccine dose 
was 
administered  
(exception : 
Janssen 
vaccine: 
period of 
validity 
commences 
on the 22nd 
day after the 
vaccine dose 
is 
administered)  Already available  Directly after the complete 
vaccination  Vaccination centres  
You are vaccinated abroad with a 
vaccine that has been authorised by the 
EMA.  Already available  2 weeks  * 
Cantonal online plat form  You are vaccinated 
abroad with a vaccine for 
which emergency 
authorisation has been 
issued by the WHO but 
which has not been 
authorised by 
Swissmedic or the EMA  You are a 
Swiss 
citizen or 
have a 
residence 
permit in 
Switzerland  Already available  2 weeks  
You are 
coming on a 
temporary 
basis 
(delegates)  Yes (not 
valid in 
the 
EU/EFTA 
States ) 30 days  22.11.2021  
at 12:00 (noon)  30.11.2021  * 
 
Recovery/immunity  You tested positive in Switzerland o r 
abroad with a PCR test.  Yes 365 days  Already available  5 days *  
You tested positive in Switzerland w ith 
an antibody test  (serology)  
See also here  Yes 
(not valid 
in the 
EU/EFTA 
States)  90 days  Already available  48-72 hours *   
Establishment licence holder  
Appointment online  
here. Allow time  
Negative test result  You tested negative in Switzerland with 
a Swiss PCR test.  
Yes 72 hours  Already available  24 hours / or earlier (additional cost)   Testing centres  
 
You tested negative in Switzerland  with 
a Swiss rapid antigen test.  48 hours  Already available  15-20 minutes  Testing centres