G/LIC/N/3/CHE/9  
20 September 2013  
(13-5037)  Page: 1/5  
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: French  
 
  AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT 
SWITZERLAND  
The following communication, dated 16 September 2013,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Switzerland.  
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  In general terms, Switzerland's import licensing regime, notified in document G/LIC/N/3/CHE/8, 
remains valid for the year 2013. Minor amendments and clarifications have been made 
to Chapters I, II, V and IX. G/LIC/N/3/CHE/9 
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  I. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS1 
Horizontal replies Purposes and coverage of licensing 2.  In principle, the agricultural products described under headings I(i) to I(ix) are subject to an 
automatic import licence (PGI). Imports within the TQs - assuming that a TQ exists and is 
applied – require a non-automatic licence (f or tariff item numbers within the TQs, 
see Swiss notification to the Committee on Agriculture G/AG/N/CHE/13/Add.*). 
 
Procedures 
6.  Non-automatic licence: This does not apply to TQs which, for other reasons, are not 
currently applied. 
 
I. The administration of TQs is described in the Swiss notification to the Committee 
on Agriculture G/AG/N/CHE/13/Add.*. All information concerning TQ utilization (quantities, 
application procedures for licences, exceptions, exemptions etc.) is set forth in the specific 
ordinances published in the RO and RS (see Chapte rs I(i) to I(iv), I(vi) and I(viii) to I(ix)). 
The customs tariffs
2 indicate, in the specific remarks under each tariff item number, 
whether or not a licence is required. If so, the name of the authority through which the 
importer may obtain further details is also provided. 
Purposes and coverage of licensing 2.  Horses are no longer subject to licensing and may be imported freely until the TQ is used up. 
Livestock and other breeding animals as well as bovine semen are subject to automatic licensing, 
and to non-automatic licensing for imports within the TQs. For tariff item numbers within the TQs, see Swiss notification to the Committee on Agriculture G/AG/N/CHE/13/Add.*. 
 
5.  See horizontal replies. The specific legal basis for (A) is the Ordinance of 26 October 2011 
on imports of agricultural products (RS 916.01), and for (B) the Ordinance of 31 October 2012 
concerning animal breeding (RS 916.310). 
 Milk, dairy products  
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  Tariff headings: subchapters 0401-0405. Thes e products are subject to automatic licensing, 
and to non-automatic licensing as regards imports of certain dairy products within the TQs. 
Tariff headings of subchapter 0406 are no longer subject to licensing. 
 Procedures 
6.II  See horizontal replies. Quotas and non-automatic licences are established 
for one calendar year, with the exception of partial tariff quota No. 7.2 for milk powder, which is divided into two bands (the first allows importation throughout the entire quota period; the second, during the second six mo nths of the quota period only). 
 
                                               
1 General information for agricult ural products is available at: http://www.import.ofag.admin.ch  
(in French, German and Italian only). 
2 http://www.tares.ch . G/LIC/N/3/CHE/9 
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  Fresh fruit and vegetables (A), fruit for cide r and fruit products (B), cut flowers (C), 
frozen vegetables (D), potatoes, including seed potatoes and potato products (E), fruit seedlings (F)  
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  The following products: 
 
(A) fresh vegetables are subject to: (a) automatic licensing and (b) non-automatic licensing as 
regards imports within the TQs over a period  ranging from six to 50 weeks according to 
the product; 
(B) fruit for cider and seed fruit products are subject to: (a) automatic licensing and 
(b) non-automatic licensing as regards imports within the TQs; 
(C) cut flowers are subject to: (a) automatic licensing and (b) non-automatic licensing as 
regards imports within the TQ during the period from 1 May to 25 October; 
(D) frozen vegetables are subject to: (a) automatic licensing and (b) non-automatic licensing 
as regards imports within the TQs; 
(E) potatoes including seed potatoes are subject to: (a) automatic licensing and 
(b) non-automatic licensing as regards imports within the TQs; (F) seedlings of seed fruit 
and stone fruit are subject to: (a) automatic licensing. 
 3.-4. See horizontal replies. 
 
5.  See horizontal replies. For (A), (B), (C), (D) and (F), the specific legal basis is the Ordinance 
of 7 December 1998 on the import of vegetables, fresh fruit and horticultural plants 
(RS 916.121.10). For (E), the specific legal basis is the Ordinance of 26 October 2011 on imports 
of agricultural products (RS 916.01).  
Procedures 
6.I. See horizontal replies. 
 II. (A) See horizontal replies. In principle, non-automatic licences are granted for the period 
indicated in point 2 above. 
(B)  See horizontal replies. Non-automatic licences for fruit for cider are issued for a maximum 
period of 12 months. 
(C)  The size of the TQ is determined for the period from 1 May to 25 October. Non-automatic 
licences are issued for that period. 
(D) and (E) See horizontal replies. Non-automatic licences are issued for 12 months maximum, 
with the exception of potatoes. 
 Feed grain and oilseeds  
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  Tariff headings are listed in Annex 1 to the Ordinance of 26 October 2011 on imports 
of agricultural products (RS 916.01). The import of products governed by market regulations 
concerning feed grain and oilseeds for feeding is subject to automatic licensing. 
 Grain for human consumption: Durum wheat (A), common wheat (B), coarse grain for human 
consumption, such as barley, oats and maize (C) 
 Purposes and coverage of licensing  
2.  Importation is subject to automatic licensing as regards imports within the TQ, except common 
wheat (B) which is subject to an applied TQ. TQs for durum wheat (A) and coarse grain for human 
consumption, such as barley, oats and maize (C) are not currently administered, i.e. importation 
at the TQ rate is not limited. As regards common wheat (B), the TQ is allocated in stages 
according to need (allocation in the order in which the customs declarations are received). 
 G/LIC/N/3/CHE/9 
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  Sugar (A), edible oils and fats (B) 
 Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  The import of products governed by the mark et regulations concerning sugar and oils and fats 
for human consumption is subject to automatic licensing. 
 5.  See horizontal replies. 
 
(A) The specific legal basis is the Ordinance of 6 July 1983 on compulsory stockpiling of sugar 
(RS 531.215.11). 
(B) The specific legal basis is the Ordinance of 26 October 2011 on imports of agricultural 
products (RS 916.01). 
 Grapes for pressing and grape juice 
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  Grapes for pressing, grape juice and fruit juices containing grape juice are subject to automatic 
licensing only. 
 5.  See horizontal replies. The specific legal basis is the Ordinance of 26 October 2011 on imports of agricultural products (RS 916.01) and the Ordinance of 14 November 2007 on viticulture 
and the importation of wine (RS 916.140). 
 Wine 
 
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
5.  See horizontal replies. The specific legal basis is the Ordinance of 26 October 2011 on imports 
of agricultural products (RS 916.01) and the Ordinance of 14 November 2007 on viticulture 
and the importation of wine (RS 916.140).  II. SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
Import, transit and export of animals and animal products 
 Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  List of OITE products: 
 In the case of products from the EU, Norway and Iceland, an authorization is required for: 
 
-  the importation or re-importation of animals or animal products which do not fulfil the 
conditions laid down in Annex 11 to the Agreement of 21 June 1999 on trade in agricultural products (hereina fter the "Agricultural Agreement"; RS 0.916.026.81 ), 
including in particular the re-importation of cloven-hoofed animals after a short stay 
in a member State of the European Union to pa rticipate in an exhibition or similar event; 
-  the importation of animal byproducts of categories 1 and 2 under Articles 4 and 5 
of the Ordinance on the elimination of animal byproducts (OESPA; RS 916.441.22); 
-  imports of animals or animal products which are not regulated 
by the Agricultural Agreement. 
 
In the case of products from other count ries, an authorization is required for: 
 -  non-commercial samples and laboratory samples that do not fulfil the conditions laid down 
in Article 10 of the OITPA; 
-  dogs, cats and ferrets from countries where urban rabies cannot be ruled out (countries 
not included in Annex 1 to the OIAC) and imported directly by air into Switzerland. 
 G/LIC/N/3/CHE/9 
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  V. TRANSPLANTS 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence 9.  All persons, firms or institutions are eligible to apply for an import authorization provided that 
they are domiciled in Switzerland. A list of the authorizations issued is published on the Internet: http://www.bag.admin.ch/t ransplantation/index.html?lang=fr  Système de 
déclaration et d'autorisation   Autorisations délivrées   Autorisations pour le stockage, 
l'importation ou l'exportation de tissus, cellules ou organes d'origine humaine   b) Importation 
ou exportation . 
 
IX. GOODS OF VITAL AGRICULTURAL AND INDUST RIAL IMPORTANCE SUBJECT TO COMPULSORY 
STOCKPILING 
Purposes and coverage of licensing 
2.  To ensure compulsory stockpiling, the Federa l Council has placed the following goods of vital 
importance under the import licensing regime (tariff headings to be found in Article 1 of the respective ordinances, see point 5):  
- liquid fuels (Swiss Central Office for the Import of Liquid Fuels, CARBURA
3); 
- sugar, rice, edible oils and fats, coffee,  different kinds of cereal, and energy-rich 
and protein-rich foods for use in animal feed ( Réservesuisse Nahrungsvorsorge Schweiz, 
Réservesuisse4); 
- the above bodies grant general import licences under the authority of the Federal Office 
for National Economic Supply. They allow importers to import the listed goods from all 
countries without quantitative restrictions and for an unlimited period of time. 
 5. Legal bases: Federal Law on National Economic Supply (RS 531) as well as the ordinances on compulsory reserve stocks specific to each product (sugar: RS 531.215.11, 
rice: RS 531.215.12, edible oils and fats: RS 531.215.13, coffee: RS 531.215.14, 
cereal and energy-rich and protein-rich f oods for use in animal feed: RS 531.215.17, 
liquid fuels: RS 531.215.41). The Government may place other products of vital importance under 
the import licensing regime. 
 
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3 Additional information in French, German, Italian and English available at: http://www.carbura.ch . 
4 Additional information in French, German and Italian available at: http://www.rese rvesuisse.ch .