Switzerland

In Switzerland, the Organic Farming Ordinance 910.18 and the FOAG Organic Farming Ordinance 910.184 apply. They define rules for organic production, distribution and labelling as well as the import of organic products. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Ordinance on Organic Farming (EAER Ordinance on Organic Farming) specifies in more detail the requirements of the Organic Farming Ordinance.

The competent authority responsible for the implementation of the Swiss organic legislation is the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG).

A mandatory national logo for organic products does not exist.

The umbrella association representing the private organic sector in Switzerland is Bio Suisse. The well-known private label of Bio Suisse - the “Bud” (Knospe) - plays a major role in the organic market in Switzerland. More than 80% of all organic products sold in Switzerland are labelled with the bud. For that, they have to be produced in accordance to the Bio Suisse label standards, which are stricter in agricultural production and processing than the Swiss Organic Law. The biggest sellers of organic food in Switzerland, Coop and Migros only accepts products with the bud. When exporters gain to sell their products via retailers like Aldi, Lidl or organic shops, there is no obligation to use the private bud label.

Another private organic association with own standards and an own label is Demeter, which is organized under the umbrella of Bio Suisse. Demeter products are sold via organic retailers, directly at farm or farmers’ markets and in some outlets of Coop and Migros.

There are different certifying bodies operating in Switzerland in accordance to the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance and accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS). The list of recognized certification bodies is provided by the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG).

Besides with the "International Certification Bio Suisse AG" (ICB AG) there is a certification body for products from outside Switzerland, which are dedicated to exports on the Swiss market with Bio Suisse standards.

Nine out of ten of these farmers, processors and traders abroad have their raw materials and products certified by ICB AG (Scopes: agriculture, processing, trade, wild collection, beekeeping, mushroom production and aquaculture).

The legal basis for the import of organic products is the most recent version of the Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance, in particular Articles 22 to 24a and 26.

The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) Ordinance on Organic Farming (abbrev. EAER Ordinance on Organic Farming) specifies in more detail the requirements of the Organic Farming Ordinance.

The EAER recognizes the production rules and inspection systems that exist in a number of countries as being equivalent to those operating in Switzerland. These countries are listed in Annex 4 (list of countries) of the EAER Ordinance on Organic Farming.

The Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG recognizes certification bodies and inspection authorities of countries not included in the list of countries, if the certification bodies and inspection authorities can prove that the products in question meet the conditions laid down in Article 22 of the Organic Farming Ordinance. The certification bodies and inspection authorities are listed in Annex 4a of the EAER Ordinance on Organic Farming.

Equivalence Arrangements

The authorities of the European Union (EU), Canada, Japan and the United States of America (USA) have officially confirmed to the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) that they recognise the Swiss Organic Farming Regulations as being equivalent to their own national regulations.

In return, Switzerland recognises the regulations governing organic farming, the processing and labelling of organic products and control systems of the aforementioned states as being equivalent to the Swiss Organic Farming Regulations.

This mutual recognition is the result of intensive bilateral negotiations. It simplifies and promotes trade in organic products.

Import according to the list of countries (equivalence arrangements)

Countries whose production rules and inspection systems are recognized as being equivalent to those operating in Switzerland are listed in Annex I of the FOAG Ordinance on Organic Farming (910.184). Organic products produced in these countries can be imported to Switzerland.

Import according to the list of recognized certification bodies

Regarding the list of third country inspection bodies, Switzerland refers to the EU list of recognised certification bodies (EU Regulation 1235/2008, Annex IV). Products that have been certified by EU-recognised third-country inspection bodies may be imported to Switzerland.

In special cases, approval procedures for third country inspection bodies are processed by the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG). Approved inspection bodies according to this procedure are listed in Annex 2 of the FOAG Organic Farming Ordinance (910.184).

Customs clearance and import notification

Each consignment must be accompanied by a certificate of inspection. No certificate of inspection is required for consignments from EU Member States, provided the imported products have been cleared in a Member State of the EU.

The certificate of inspection must be drawn up by the inspection body or authority in the country of origin (or the country of export):

• In the case of imports from countries included in the list of countries, the certificate has to be issued by a certification body or inspection authority authorized for the exporting country according to the list of countries.
• In the case of imports of products according to the list of recognized certification bodies, the certificate has to be issued by a certification body or inspection authority authorized for the exporting country according to the list of recognized certification bodies.

Implementation of TRACES and the Electronic Certificate of Inspection for imports of organic products to Switzerland

On 1st of January 2018 TRACES became applicable for imports to Switzerland (Art. 24 of the Ordinance on Organic Farming). From 1st of January 2019 onwards the E-COI became mandatory. Switzerland uses the same electronic system like the EU. However, the Swiss list of countries is not yet completely harmonized with the corresponding EU lists. Swiss companies have to register in TRACES. Importers and first consignees should address to their certification bodies for further information about the process.

Import of Bio Suisse products

The Bio Suisse Standards differ from minimum governmental regulations in several important respects. For all foreign operations (from cultivation to export) supplying import products to the Swiss sales channels, which require the "Bud" label, the operator must hold a valid Bio Suisse Certificate issued by an accredited inspection body. Additionally to the recognized certification bodies by Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), the private label organisation Bio Suisse recognizes imports in accordance to their own standards via the ICB (International Certification Bio Suisse).

General information on organic agriculture in Switzerland.