. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CHE/52 
17 August 2006 
 (06-3924) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   French 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SWITZERLAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:        
2. Agency responsible:  Office vétérinaire fédéral (Federal Veterinary Office) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Live animals;  animal semen;  unfertilized ova and embryos;  foodstuffs of 
animal origin; foodstuffs containing foodstuffs of animal origin;  animal by-products (ABPs);  hay and straw;  other products liable to harbour epizootic agents (Chapters Nos. 1, 
2, 3, 4, 5, 15 and 16, as well as certain headings of Chapters 12, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 28, 30, 
31, 35, 41, 42, 43, 51, 95 and 97 of the Customs Tariff).  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries.  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Projet d'ordonnance 
concernant l'importation, le tr ansit et l'exportation d'animaux  et de produits animaux 
remplaçant l'ordonnance du 20 avril 1988 concernant l'importation, le transit et 
l'exportation d'animaux et  de produits d'animaux.  (Draft ordinance on the import, transit 
and export of animals and products of an imal origin replacing the Ordinance of 
20 April 1988 on the import, transit and expor t of animals and products of animal origin 
(Available in German, French  and Italian, 27 pages). 
6. Description of content:  The complete revision to this Ordinance has adapted the Swiss 
provisions to those of the European Communities.  Its purpose is to reduce customs 
formalities between Switzerland and the Europ ean Communities in international trade in 
animals and products of animal origin.  It al so establishes inspection procedures for animals 
and products of animal origin that will be imported from third countries, transit through 
these countries or be exported to these countries. 
 In order to facilitate and harmonize intern ational trade, from 1 February 2007 the 
veterinary certificates for animals and products  of animal origin required by European 
Communities legislation will be accepted for imports into Switzerland of animals and products of animal origin from third countries.  From 1 April 2007, these certificates, together with their latest amendments, will be compulsory for import into Switzerland and 
will replace the existing Swiss certificates.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [    ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests        G/SPS/N/CHE/52 
Page 2  
 
  8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:        
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
 Ordonnance du 20 avril 1988 concernant l'impor tation, le transit et l'exportation 
d'animaux et de produits d'ani maux (OITE, RS 916.443.11) (Ordinance of 20 April 1988 on 
the import, transit and export of animals a nd products of animal origin (OITE, RS 
916.443.11)) (Available in Germ an, French and Italian), 
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/c916_443_11.html  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  8 November 2006  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 2007 (1 April 2007 for the certificates)  
12. Final date for comments:  8 October 2006  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ] National notification 
authority, [    ] National enquiry point, or add ress, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:        
13. Texts available from:  [    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
 The text is available at the following website: 
 http://www.bvet.admin.ch/bvet/ 00297/01021/index. html?lang=fr