WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/STR/N/10/CHE/Suppl.1 
G/STR/N/11/CHE 30 November 2007 
 
(07-5281) 
Working Party on 
State Trading Enterprises Original:   English 
 
 
 
STATE TRADING 
 
New and Full Notification Pursuant to Article XVII:4(a) of the  
GATT 1994 and Paragraph 1 of the Understanding on  
the Interpretation of Article XVII  
 
SWITZERLAND 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 19 November 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Switzerland.  
_______________ 
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G/STR/N/11/CHE Page 2 
 
 
  I. ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES 
 Swiss Alcohol Board;  Federal Department of Finance.   
 
II. REASON AND PURPOSE 
 The Alcohol Legislation, which is concerned w ith the manufacture, rectification and import of 
spirits and ethanol, was established in Sw itzerland for public health reasons.   
  It is based on Article 105 of the Federal Cons titution, which gives the Federation the sole right 
to legislate in this field.  Pursuant to that cons titutional basis, the Federal Assembly promulgated the 
Federal Law on Alcohol of 21 June 1932.  This le gislation aims at reduc ing the production and 
consumption of spirits.    
III. DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE 
 The private sector is allowed to  import ethanol and spirits contai ning not more than 80 per cent 
by volume without restriction and without any permit.  The taxes, fixed by the Federal Council, have to 
be paid on imported goods as well as on the domestic production.     For control reasons, the Swiss Confederation, through " alcosuisse ", a profit centre of the 
Alcohol Board, is entitled to import ethanol whose alcohol content exceeds 80 per cent by volume.  
However, imports by the private sector are possible su bject to prior authorization by the Alcohol Board.   
 
 Inside the country, ethanol and spirits are not produced by the Al cohol Board itself, but by the 
private sector which, for control reasons, has be en granted a concession (industrial and professional 
producers, farmers, small producers).    
 Industrial distilleries and spirit s producers are allowed to market  their products directly subject 
to payment of the taxes.  This trade is subject to authorization.     Ethanol is bought and sold by " alcosuisse " at the market price of the various qualities imported 
or produced in Switzerland.  Th e prices for ethanol sold by " alcosuisse " are fixed by the Federal 
Council.  Ethanol intended for consump tion purposes is subj ect to a tax.   
 
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATION (SEE ATTACHED TABLES I – III FOR 2004, 2005 
AND 2006 RESPECTIVELY) 
 See Annex.   
 V. REASON WHY NO FOREIGN TRADE HAS TAKEN PLACE ( AS APPROPRIATE)  
 As the Alcohol Legislat ion is established for public health reasons, the commercial activities of 
the Alcohol Board are concentrated on the domestic  market.  Therefore the quantity exported by the 
Alcohol Board is not important (see Table II, exports).   
 
VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ( AS APPROPRIATE)  
 Nil of note.   
   
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TABLE I 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, IMPORTS 
 
YEAR 2004 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Total 
quantity 
imported
1 Quantity imported 
by state trading 
enterprise1 Average 
import price Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Mark-up2 National 
production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl 
alcohol of an alcoholic 
strength by volume of 
80% volume or higher 
2207.1000 227'967 hl 227'967 hl USD / hl 
52.77 USD / hl 
129.37 - 111'478 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured 
or intended for 
denaturing 
2207.2000 24'921 hl 24'921 hl USD / hl 
61.50 USD / hl 
69.36 - 0 
 
                                                      
1 In cases where no imports have taken place under columns 2 or 3, provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire.    
2 Members may report either under columns 4 and 5 or under column 6.    
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TABLE II 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, EXPORTS 
 
YEAR 2004 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) (including HS number(s)) Total 
quantity 
exported
3 Quantity exported by 
state trading 
enterprise3 Average 
procurement 
price4 Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Average export 
price National 
production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl 
alcohol of an alcoholic 
strength by volume of 
80% volume or higher 
2207.1000 295 hl - USD / hl 
52.77 USD / hl 
129.37 USD / hl 
1356,44 111'478 hl 
 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured 
or intended for 
denaturing 
2207.2000 3'116 hl  USD / hl 
61.50 USD / hl 
69.36 USD / hl 
230.63 - 
 
 
                                                      
3In cases where no exports have taken place under columns 2 or 3,  provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire.   
4In cases where the initial procurement price is augmented by ot her payments, additional payments  should also be reported.    
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TABLE III 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES 
 
YEAR 2004 
 
 
Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Domestic purchases 
by 
state trading 
enterprise National 
production Domestic sales by 
State trading 
enterprise National 
consumption 
1 2 3 4 5 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol 
of an alcoholic strength by 
volume of 80% volume or 
higher 
2207.1000 111'478 hl 111'478 hl 11'998 hl 11'998 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing 
2207.2000 0 0 391'064 hl 391'064 hl 
 
   
  
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Page 6 
 
TABLE I 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, IMPORTS 
 
YEAR 2005 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total 
quantity 
imported5 Quantity imported 
by state trading 
enterprise5 Average 
import price Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Mark-up6 National 
production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl 
alcohol of an alcoholic 
strength by volume of 
80% volume or higher 
2207.1000 302'803 hl 302'804 hl USD / hl 
61.63 USD / hl 
170.14 - 111'023 hl 
 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured 
or intended for 
denaturing 
2207.2000 31'984 hl 31'984 hl USD / hl 
67.55 USD / hl 
75.32 - 0 
 
  
 
                                                     
 
5 In cases where no imports have taken place under columns 2 or 3, provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire.    
6 Members may report either under columns 4 and 5 or under column 6.    
   G/STR/N/10/CHE/Suppl.1
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 Page 7TABLE II 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, EXPORTS 
 
YEAR 2005 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total 
quantity 
exported7 Quantity exported by 
state trading 
enterprise7 Average 
procurement 
price8 Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Average export 
price National 
production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic 
strength by volume of 
80% volume or higher 
2207.1000 297 hl - USD / hl 
61.63 USD / hl 
170.14 USD / hl 
1458.86 111'023 hl 
 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured 
or intended for 
denaturing 
2207.2000 969 hl  USD / hl 
67.55 USD / hl 
75.32 USD / hl 
493.08 - 
 
 
                                                      
7In cases where no exports have taken place under columns 2 or 3,  provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire. 
8In cases where the initial procurement price is augmented by other payments, additional paymen ts should also be reported.  
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TABLE III 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES 
 
YEAR 2005 
 
 
Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Domestic purchases 
by state trading 
enterprise National 
production Domestic sales by 
state trading 
enterprise National 
consumption 
1 2 3 4 5 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol 
of an alcoholic strength by 
volume of 80% volume or 
higher 
2207.1000 111'023 hl 111'023 hl 11'936 hl 11'936 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing 
2207.2000 0 0 418'697 hl 418'697 hl 
 
 
   
   G/STR/N/10/CHE/Suppl.1
 G/STR/N/11/CHE
 Page 9TABLE I 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, IMPORTS 
 
YEAR 2006 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total 
quantity 
imported9 Quantity imported 
by 
state trading 
enterprise9 Average 
import price Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Mark-up10 National 
production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic 
strength by volume of 
80% volume or higher 
2207.1000 411'762 hl 411'762 hl USD / hl 
66.39 USD / hl 
177.55 - 94'665 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured 
or intended for 
denaturing 
2207.2000 30'826 hl 30'826 hl USD / hl 
68.25 USD / hl 
77.35 - 0 
 
                                                      
9 In cases where no imports have taken place under columns 2 or 3, provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire.  
10 Members may report either under columns 4 and 5 or under column 6.  
  G/STR/N/10/CHE/Suppl.1 
G/STR/N/11/CHE 
Page 10 
TABLE II 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, EXPORTS 
 
YEAR 2006 
 
 
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total 
quantity 
exported11 Quantity exported by 
state trading 
enterprise11 Average 
procurement 
price12 Average 
representative 
domestic sales price Average export 
price National 
production 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic 
strength by volume of 
80% volume or higher 
2207.1000 382 hl - USD / hl 
66.39 USD / hl 
177.55 USD / hl 
1065.67 94'665 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured 
or intended for 
denaturing 
2207.2000 2'854 hl  USD / hl 
68.25 USD / hl 
77.35 USD / hl 
63.56 - 
 
                                                      
11In cases where no exports have taken place under columns 2 or 3,  provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire. 
12In cases where the initial procurement price is augmented by other payments, additional paymen ts should also be reported.  
   G/STR/N/10/CHE/Suppl.1
 G/STR/N/11/CHE
 Page 11TABLE III 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES 
 
YEAR 2006 
 
 
Description of product(s) 
(including HS number(s)) Domestic purchases 
by 
state trading 
enterprise National 
production Domestic sales by 
state trading 
enterprise National 
consumption 
1 2 3 4 5 
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by 
volume of 80% volume or 
higher 
2207.1000 94'665 hl 94'665 hl 11'556 hl 11'556 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing 
2207.2000 0 0 462'172 hl 462'172 hl 
 
  
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