WT/MIN(21)/INF/9  
 
15 November  2021 
(21-8607) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 30 November -3 December 2021  Original: English  
 
NOTE TO DELEGATIONS  
COVID -RELATED MEASURES IN THE MC12 VENUES  
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 of "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 no te 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.  
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 securi ty 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 will be made available to all MC12 
participants)  
b. Mask wearing  
c. Room disinfection after every meeting and systematic disinfection of all common areas.  WT/MIN(21)/INF/9  
 
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  1.8.  Further details on Covid -related measures are found in the annex  to this note, as 
communicated by the Permanent 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 PC R 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 fra mes: 
• 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 WT O Secretariat with M3 Sanitrade especially for MC12.  
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  
2.6.  MC12 participants wishing to do a COVID test at one of the 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 (terminal 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 at the Geneva Airport Re ception and Protocol Service.  
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WT/MIN(21)/INF/9  
 
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Annex  
Procedures on how to register and to obtain a Swiss COVID certificate  for the MC12  
The fastest track is to 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 are invited to apply as soon as 
possible to obtain a Swiss certificate.  
The present list of concerned vaccines includes: Comirnaty Pfizer/BioNTech, SpikeVax 
(Moderna), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca).  
• Persons vaccinated abroad with a vaccine only listed by WHO for emergency use cannot yet 
apply. Further information will be given as soon as available.  
The present list of concerned vaccines includes: BBIBP -CorV (Sinopharm), 
Coronavac (Sinovac), CoviShield and Covaxin.  
Information required to complete the online application:  
• If applicable , information about your citizenship (e.g. copy of your passport or residence 
permit in Switzerland).  
• 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 va ccine, 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 date and time of sample collection (not older than 1 80 days) and the 
type of test (only PCR tests are accepted).  
• It is advised to upload a copy of MC12 registration, or any other document indicating the 
attendance to MC12, to facilitate the process.  
NB. The required documents must be written in the Latin al phabet, in French, German, Italian or 
English  
Important note: the 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  informat ion 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 affa ires générales