G/LIC/N/2/CHE/3  
7 March  2019 
(19-1413) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  French  
 
  
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF  THE AGREEMENT1 
SWITZERLAND  
 The following notification, dated 6 March 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland . 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Switzerland  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Federal Law on Alcohol (RS 680), amendment of 
30 September  2016 
3 Date of Publication  21 March 2017 
4 Date of entry into force  1 January  2019 
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  https://www.admin.ch/opc/fr/official -compilation/2017/777.pdf  
 
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat  [ ] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[X] No. 
7 Type of notification  [ ] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure2; (please answer 
question  8 to 14)  
 
[X] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been 
previously notified in document : G/LIC/N/3/CHE/14 ; 
(please answer question 15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject  to 
licensing  Please provide the HS codes and detailed descriptions of the 
products . In case of a long list, please attach the list as an Annex in 
MS Word document.  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  [ ] 
 
Non-Automatic:  [ ] 
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life or health;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other : ______________ (please specify)  
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications  Ministry/authority and Department : [ ] 
Address : [ ] 
Website : [ ] 
Telephone:  [ ] 
Email: [ ] 
                                                
1 It is understood that by completing this form, the notifying Member has also fulfilled its notification 
obligations under Article  1.4(a) and Article  8.2(b) concerning the notified relevant law, regulation or procedure.  
2 It is understood that "new […] regulation/procedure" refers to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, as well as to those that are in effect but that are being notified to the Committee for the first time.  G/LIC/N/2/CHE/3  
- 2 - 
   Category  Notification details  
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department : [ ] 
Address : [ ] 
Website : [ ] 
Telephone:  [ ] 
Email: [ ] 
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure   
 
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages   
 
 
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other : __________ (please specify).  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the official WTO languages)  Switzerland has eliminated the State monopoly on trade in ethanol . 
The import licensing requirement has also be en abolished . The 
liberalization of the ethanol market took effect on 1 January  2019. 
 
 
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