Arriving from abroad: how to get through customs smoothly?

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What should you look for when you arrive in Switzerland?

In principle, the holidays pass very quickly. You might want to save the holiday spirit with a few souvenirs to take home: a hand-carved figure, a jade necklace, or a Rolex replica watch from the night market. What begins as a relaxed holiday mood can end badly when you arrive in Switzerland: strict rules apply to the importation of goods.

Imports of goods with a per capita value up to CHF 300 are exempt from VAT. This includes not only things you buy yourself, but also gifts from friends abroad. If you hit the jackpot too far and you’re in jeans and co. If it exceeds 300 francs, you need to declare the whole value.

Smuggling can result in high fines

Nobody cares! Bad idea: Officers are highly trained and unmistakably select shopaholics. There is a fine if you are caught smuggling. Exemption limits are collected for married couples. However, the exemption limit does not apply to goods with import restrictions such as alcohol and cigarettes. For Scotch whiskey it can be only 1 liter, for cigarettes only 250 units.

For example, importing the fine cured meat that people like to eat during their stay in the US is also not a good idea: meat products from non-EU countries may not be imported and can be confiscated! You often break the law unknowingly – and it can be really costly. This is especially true for souvenirs made from plants and animals.

The mussel, which you can buy from every corner of the holiday country, is perhaps on the species conservation list, as is the framed tropical plant. The penalties in these cases are very high. Therefore, you should basically get your hands on all souvenirs from the plant and animal world. With a fake Gucci bag there can also be a rude awakening: importing imitations is strictly prohibited!

The most important rules at Swiss customs

If you go through Swiss customs, you have to follow a few formalities.

• Up to 18% alcohol by volume: 5 liters per person per day
• More than 18% alcohol by volume: 1 liter per person per day
• Meat: 1 kg per person per day
• Cigarettes: 250 per person per day
• Edible oils and fats, margarine: 5 kg/liter per person per day

If the purchase is more than 300 francs, you must pay VAT on the total value of the goods.

To note:

• Importation or proportional selection of animal products from countries other than EU Member States and Norway is prohibited.
• Game animals include land mammals living in the wild or kept indoors, such as antelopes, deer, pheasants, rabbits, chamois, deer, kangaroos, marmots, whippets, partridges, roe deer, reindeer, mountain goats, ostriches, pigeons, and birds. quail, wild ducks, wild geese, hares, wild boars.

Note: This text provides only a brief overview of customs regulations. For more: www.ch.ch/de/schweizer-zoll

Source : Blick