(October 10, 2014)

On October 10, 2014 the chairperson of the Swiss joint committee signed decree no. 1/2014 on the amendment of Annex I to the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on the simplification of customs formalities and on customs security measures. The decree was approved by the Federal Council on October 8, 2014 and will enter into force on October 11, 2014.

The agreement of June 25, 2009 between Switzerland and the EU on the simplification of inspections and formalities in respect of the carriage of goods and on customs security measures contains annexes on what are known as entry and exit summary declarations and on authorized economic operators. The agreement aims to ensure an equivalent level of security between Switzerland and the EU in the area of customs.

Annex I to the agreement provides that the customs administration of the country of export shall transmit the security-related information to the customs administration of the country of exit (through which the country of export carries its goods out of the joint security area) if the goods leave from the customs territory of the other Contracting Party. If this information is not transmitted, it must be submitted at the latest upon leaving the country of exit, except if the goods are carried via direct air traffic.

Decree no. 1/2014 provides for an additional exception for the transmission of data relating to goods that are carried by an airline if the first part of the transport was undertaken by road (known as air freight replacement transport).

For further information click here to be forwarded to the (German) text of decree no. 1/2014 as published on the website of the Swiss Federal Department of Finance, which will open in a new window. Or click here for the French version of decree no. 1/2014.

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