WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/LIC/N/1/CHE/3 
20 January 2012 
 (12-0386) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   French 
  
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
 
Notification under Article 1.4(a)
1 and/or 8.2(b)2 
of the Agreement 
 
SWITZERLAND 
   The following notification, dated 19 January 2012, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Switzerland. 
 
1. Notification under Article 1.4(a) [X];  Article 8.2(b) [X] (If the notification is made 
under both Articles please mark both with an X)  
2. Source(s) where the Import Licensing  Procedure(s) has(ve) been published 
(Official Gazette, publication, website, etc.): 
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/rs.html  
3. Date of publication:1 see point 6 below 
Effective date of requirement:  see point 6 below  
4. Copy(ies) of publication (in case of Art. 1.4(a))3 and/or legislation (in case of 
Art. 8.2(b))4 is(are) available for consultation by Members: 
[X] at the WTO Secretariat (Market Access Division)  (In this case please attach copies 
of the publication and or legislation, if possible in electronic format:  Microsoft Word or 
compatible software)  
and/or [X] by request at the following address and fax numbers, and/or e-mail and website: 
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/rs.html 
5. In the case that they are not in on e of the three WTO official languages, (English, 
French or Spanish)  a SUMMARY of the publication (in case of Art. 1.4(a)) and/or the 
legislation (in case of Art. 8.2(b)):4 
[ ] G/LIC/N/1/CHE/3 
Page 2  
 
  6. Other pertinent data or information (i.e. title of the proposed or adopted 
law/regulation establishing the Import Licensing Procedure): 
Agricultural commodities Federal Law of 29 April 1998 on agriculture (RS 910.1), entry into force (EIF) 
1 January 1999 
General Ordinance of 26 October 2011 on  imports of agricultural commodities 
(RS 916.01), EIF 1 January 2012 
Ordinance of 14 November 2007 on livestock (RS 916.310), EIF 1 January 2008 
Ordinance of 26 November 2003 on the sla ughter cattle and meat markets (RS 916.341), 
EIF 1 January 2004 
Ordinance of 26 November 2003 on the egg market (RS 916.371), EIF 1 January 2004 
Ordinance of 7 December 1998 on the impor t and export of vegetables, fruit and 
horticultural plants (RS 916.121.10), EIF 1 January 1999 
Ordinance of 14 November 2007 on viticultu re and the import of wine (RS 916.140), 
EIF 1 January 2008 
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
Ordinance of 18 April 2007 on the import, tr ansit and export of animals and animal 
products (RS 916.443.10), EIF 1 May 2007 
Ordinance of 27 August 2008 on the import and transit of animal products by air from 
third countries (RS 916.443.13), EIF 1 October 2008 
Ordinance of 18 April 2007 on the import of pets (RS 916.443.14), EIF 1 July 2007 
Law of 1 July 1966 on epizootics (RS 916.40), EIF 1 January 1967 
Ordinance of 27 October 2010 on plant pr otection (RS 916.20), EIF 1 January 2011 
Federal Law of 4 October 1991 on for ests (RS 921.0), EIF 1 January 1993 
Convention on International Trade in E ndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 
(CITES) 
Ordinance of 18 April 2007 on the conservation of species (RS 453), EIF 1 July 2007 
Convention of 3 March 1973 on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna 
and Flora (RS 0.453), EIF 1 July 1975 
Federal Law of 16 December 2005 on the protection of animals (RS 455), 
EIF 1 September 2008 
Federal Law of 21 June 1991 on fisheries (RS 923.0), EIF 1 January 1994 
Ordinance of 16 May 2007 on the controls to be performed under the Convention on the 
conservation of species (RS 453.1), EIF 1 July 2007 
Law of 20 June 1986 on hunting and the protec tion of wild mammals and birds (RS 922.0), 
EIF 1 April 1988 
Forest reproductive material 
Ordinance of 29 November 1994 on forest reproductive material (RS 921.552.1), 
EIF 1 January 1995 
Federal Law of 4 October 1991 on for ests (RS 921.0), EIF 1 January 1993 
Ordinance of 30 November 1992 on forests (RS 921.01), EIF 1 January 1993  G/LIC/N/1/CHE/3 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Transplants 
Federal Law of 8 October 2004 on the transp lantation of organs, tissues and cells 
(RS 810.21), EIF 1 July 2007 
Ordinance of 16 March 2007 on the transpla ntation of organs, tissues and cells 
(RS 810.211), EIF 1 July 2007 
Blood, blood products and immuno logical products for human use 
Federal Law of 15 December 2000 on medi cinal products and medical devices 
(RS 812.21), EIF 1 January 2002 
Ordinance of 17 October 2001 on author izations regarding medicinal products 
(RS 812.212.1), EIF 1 January 2002 
Narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances a nd precursors used and marketed for legal 
purposes  
Federal Law of 3 October 1951 on narco tic drugs and psycho tropic substances 
(RS 812.121), EIF 1 June 1952 
Ordinance of 25 May 2011 on the contro l of narcotic drugs (RS 812.121.1), 
EIF 1 July 2011 
Ethanol 
Federal Law of 21 June 1932 on al cohol (RS 680), EIF 1 January 1933 
Goods of vital agricultural and industr ial importance subject to compulsory 
stockpiling 
Federal Law of 8 October 1982 on national economic supply (RS 531), 
EIF 1 September 1983 
Ordinance of 6 July 1983 on building up compulsory reserve stocks of sugar 
(RS 531.215.11), EIF 1 September 1983 
Ordinance of 6 July 1983 on building up compulsory reserve stocks of edible rice 
(RS 531.215.12) EIF 1 September 1983 
Ordinance of 6 July 1983 on building up compulso ry reserve stocks of edible oils and fats, 
as well as their raw materials and semi-processed products (RS 531.215.13), 
EIF 1 September 1983 
Ordinance of 6 July 1983 on building up compulsory reserve stocks of coffee 
(RS 531.215.14), EIF 1 September 1983 
Ordinance of 25 April 2001 on compulsory stockpiling of cereals, special cereals and of 
energy- and protein-rich foods for use in animal feed (RS 531.215.17), EIF 1 July 2001 
Ordinance of 6 July 1983 on building up compulso ry reserve stocks of fuel and liquid fuel 
(RS 531.215.41), EIF 1 September 1983 
War material, weapons 
Federal Law of 13 December 1996 on war ma teriel (RS 514.51), EIF 1 April 1998 
Ordinance of 25 February 1998 on war ma terial (RS 514.511), EIF 1 April 1998 
Federal Law of 13 December 1996 on the c ontrol of goods for civilian and military 
purposes and specific military goods  (RS 946.202), EIF 1 October 1997 G/LIC/N/1/CHE/3 
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  Ordinance of 17 October 2007 on the control of  chemical products for civilian and military 
purposes (RS 946.202.21), EIF 1 January 2008 
Federal Law of 20 June 1997 on weapons, weapon accessories and ammunition 
(RS 514.54), EIF 1 January 1999 
Ordinance of 2 July 2008 on weapons, w eapon accessories and ammunition (RS 514.541), 
EIF 12 December 2008 
Explosive materials and pyrot echnic devices for civilian use 
Federal Law of 25 March 1977  on explosive substances (R S 941.41), EIF 1 June 1980 
Ordinance of 27 November 2000 on explosive substances (RS 941.411), 
EIF 1 February 2001 
Nuclear fuel, debris and waste 
Law of 21 March 2003 on nuclear energy (RS 732.1), EIF 1 February 2005 
Ordinance of 10 December 2004 on nuclear  energy (RS 732.11), EIF 1 February 2005 
Law of 22 March 1991 on radiation protec tion (RS 814.50), EIF 1 October 1994 
Ordinance of 22 June 1994 on radiation protection (RS 814.501), EIF 1 October 1994 
 
__________  
 
 
 
                                                        
1 "[...] Publication shall take place, whenever practicable, 21 days  prior to the effective date of the 
requirement but in all events not later than such effec tive date.  Any exception, derogations or changes in or 
from the rules concerning licensing procedures or the lis t of products subject to impo rt licensing shall also be 
published in the same manner and within the same time pe riods as specified above."  See Article 1.4(a) of the 
Agreement. 
2 "Each Member shall inform the Committee of any changes in its laws and regulations relevant to this 
Agreement and in the administration of such laws and regulations." 
3 "The rules and all information concerning procedures for the submission of applications, including the 
eligibility of persons, firms and institutions to make such applications, the administrative body(ies) to be approached, and the lists of products subject to the licensing requirement shall be published, in the sources 
notified to the Committee on Import Licensing [...] Copies of  these publications shall also be made available to 
the Secretariat."  See Article 1.4(a)  of the Agreement and document G/LIC/3 "Procedures for Notification and 
Review under the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures". 
4 See document G/LIC/3 "Procedures for Notification and Review under the Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures".