Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§98 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Grants and direct payments, Internal taxes |
Other |
Relevant information
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The Confederation continues to provide financial support for the investigation, monitoring, and rehabilitation of polluted sites. A tax on the deposit of waste in landfills is applied for this purpose. The funds available from the tax amount to approximately SwF 40 million per year, whereas expenditures depend on the demands of the cantons. Outlays totalled SwF 40.8 million in 2014 and SwF 38.8 million in 2015.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§99 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Tax concessions |
Chemicals |
Relevant information
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According to the legislation relating to volatile organic compounds, companies may be exempted from the tax (Article 9) provided that they modify their stationary installations (i.e. install purification plants) to reduce emissions to significantly below the limit values stipulated in the Air Protection Ordinance, or reduce VOCs emissions at every step of the production process according to the best available technique.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§105 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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[Context:
3.104. On 1 July 2010, Switzerland had introduced the "Cassis de Dijon" principle as a new, additional trade policy instrument to dismantle technical barriers to imports from the EU and EFTA markets and thereby enhance import competition and help reduce the high prices prevailing in Switzerland. Under the "Cassis de Dijon" principle, products that are lawfully put into circulation on the EU and EEA markets and comply with the technical requirements of the EU or the EEA may be placed on the market in Switzerland without any prior inspection or other conformity assessment, even if the products do not comply with Swiss technical requirements.]
From the beginning, there have been a number of exceptions to the "Cassis de Dijon" principle. The instrument is not applicable to products that are subject to an import permit; import prohibition; authorization; notification pursuant to the Swiss legislation concerning chemicals; or an exemption granted by the Federal Council. Products affected by the exceptions include pharmaceuticals, certain chemicals , certain dangerous substances, certain detergents, fertilizers, plant protection products, certain measuring instruments, certain motor vehicles, boats, certain animal feedstuffs, GMOs, and certain foodstuffs. The SECO keeps an indicative list of exceptions as a guide for operators (negative list).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§108 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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(...) The labelling requirements apply from the point of sale to the final consumer in retail trade and in establishments where meals are prepared for the public, such as restaurants. The labelling requirements for GMOs remain unchanged.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§110 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Other measures |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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(...) Switzerland has mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with the EU (covering 20 industrial sectors), EEA/EFTA, Canada, and Turkey. For selected agricultural products, Switzerland and the EU recognize the equivalence of their respective laws in order to facilitate trade. [80]
[80] Feedstuffs, seeds, wine, spirits and alcoholic beverages from wine, bio-products, fruits, vegetables, animals, and animal products.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§117 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Other environmental requirements |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Switzerland continues to apply a stringent regulatory regime for agricultural biotechnology products. The Gene Technology Law and related ordinances regulate genetically modified organisms for food and feed use. Commercialization and cultivation of biotechnology crops are subject to approval by the competent federal authorities. Approvals are valid for ten years but may be withdrawn in case of reasonable suspicion that they are hazardous to health or the environment. One GM soya variety and three GM maize varieties are currently authorized for food use. A number of GMO products are authorized for use as feedstuffs. Many applications are under review in the authorization procedure. The 2006-17 moratorium on approvals for the cultivation of biotechnology crops has been extended for four years until 2021.
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Keywords
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Bio
Hazardous
Environment
Genetic
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§120 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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(...) A plant passport is required for plant imports from EU member States that are potential carriers of pests hazardous to Switzerland. (...)
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§122 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Other measures |
Energy |
Relevant information
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The alcohol import monopoly is exercised by Alcosuisse (a profit centre of the Swiss Alcohol Board) and applied to ethanol containing at least 80% alcohol by volume. (...) The Confederation's import monopoly on ethanol used as bio-fuel was terminated on 1 October 2010. Total imports of ethanol into Switzerland in 2015 amounted to 62 million litres, of which 34 million litres were imported by Alcosuisse and 28 million litres were predominantly for use as bio-fuel.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§166 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Public procurement |
Services |
Relevant information
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EU countries were required to transpose three directives into national law by 18 April 2016: Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement, Directive 2014/25/EU on Procurement by Entities Operating in the Water, Energy, Transport and Postal Services Sectors, and Directive 2014/23/EU on the Award of Concession Contracts. Consequently, Liechtenstein is in the process of updating is national legislation, and the government has published a report with deadlines for comments of 9 September 2016 for the Draft Government Bill Concerning the Amendment of the Act on Public Procurement and of 7 October 2016 for the Draft Government Bill Concerning the Amendment of the Act on Public Procurement of the Utilities for Public Works Contracts, and Supply and Services Contracts in Water, Energy, Transport, and Postal Services. According to the authorities, (...) New selection criteria may include the organization, qualifications and experience of staff entrusted with the implementation of the contract, and environmental criteria as well as life-cycle costing can be applied. (...)
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/355/REV.1 |
S-III§167 |
Switzerland and Liechtenstein |
2017 |
Measures |
Public procurement |
Services |
Relevant information
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Under the 1998 Public Procurement Act, fully open or restricted tendering can be used to assign contracts. Procedures can be carried out using methods such as framework agreements, dynamic purchasing systems, and competitive dialogue. These methods have not yet been used in practice. Contracts above the EEA thresholds are awarded according to international rules (i.e. EEA, GPA and FTA rules); they are announced in the EU electronic government procurement system (Table 3.18). For contracts below the EEA thresholds, public utilities usually use open or negotiated procedures; otherwise, relevant international rules apply. Under the two laws mentioned above (Act on the Procurement of Utilities for Public Works Contracts, and Supply and Services Contracts in Water, Energy, Transport, and Postal Services; Act on Public Procurement for all other Public Purchases), contracts are awarded according to the most economically advantageous tender or to the tender with the lowest price. Additional criteria, such as quality, environmental characteristics, and cost-effectiveness, may also be taken into account. (...)
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