WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/STR/N/12/CHE 
17 October 2008 
 (08-4988) 
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 14 October 2008, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Switzerland.   
 
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 G/STR/N/12/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 constitutional 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 consumpti on purposes is subjec t to a tax.   
 
IV. STATISTICAL INFORMATION ( SEE ATTACHED TABLES I – III)  
 
 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.   
  
   G/STR/N/12/CHE
 Page 3 
TABLE I 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, IMPORTS, Year 2007  
  
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 334'680 hl 334'680 hl USD / hl 
73.77 USD / hl 
111.39 - 90'602 hl 
 
Ethyl alcohol, 
denatured or intended for denaturing 
2207.2000 28'223 hl 28'223 hl USD / hl 
68.91 USD / hl 
90.47 - 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.    
  G/STR/N/12/CHE 
Page 4 TABLE II 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, EXPORTS, Year 2007  
  
Description of 
product(s) 
(including HS 
number(s)) Total quantity 
exported
3 Quantity exported 
by 
state trading 
enterprise1 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 453 hl - USD / hl 
73.77 USD / hl 
111.39 USD / hl 
1791.13 90'602 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, 
denatured or intended for denaturing 
2207.2000 2'008 hl - USD / hl 
68.91 USD / hl 
90.47 USD / hl 
59.22 - 
 
                                                      
3 In cases where no exports have taken place under columns 2 or 3, provide an explanation under Section V of this questionnaire.    
4 In cases where the initial procurement price is augmented by ot her payments, additional payments  should also be reported.    
   G/STR/N/12/CHE
 Page 5TABLE III 
 
SWISS ALCOHOL BOARD 
 
STATISTICAL INFORMATION, DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES, Year 2007  
  
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 90'602 hl 90'602 hl 14'338.31 hl 14'338.31 hl 
Ethyl alcohol, denatured or 
intended for denaturing 
2207.2000 0 0 463'064.03 hl 463'064.03 hl 
 
   
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