Importing meat and sausage products
This page provides information for companies on importing meat and sausage products. It explains how quota shares are allocated through auctions and based on measures that support Swiss production, as well as the special provisions for halal and kosher meat.
Companies (for trade)
For commercial imports of 20kg gross or more, you need a general import licence. To determine whether you require a licence, enter the tariff number in the electronic customs tariff system Tares (FOCBS).
Many meat products are subject to quota auctions. If you hold such quotas, you can import at a preferential quota tariff during the specified import period. For more details, please see the «Tariff quotas» section.
Tariff quota No 5 for red meat and tariff quota No 6 for white meat
Tariff quotas 5 and 6 are broken down into sub-categories, which are outlined in Chapter 5 of the Slaughter Animals Ordinance (SlAO).
Most meat quotas are auctioned off monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on the meat category. You can find the auction dates in the Auction Calendar, with detailed information listed in the tenders. Auctions are held via the eKontingente portal, which requires prior registration. Sign up for the newsletter to receive notifications whenever a new tender is published.
Allocation of tariff quotas based on measures to promote domestic production
Slaughterhouses can receive tariff quota shares for animals they slaughter and report to the Animal Tracing Database by submitting a request through the AGATE application. For livestock purchased at supervised public market auctions, buyers must use the eKontingente portal to claim their quota shares.
Allocation of quota shares based on number of animals auctioned at supervised public markets
For meat and meat product categories 5.71 and 5.74 (SIAO, Art. 14), 10% of the quota shares in the import volumes set by the FOAG are allocated according to the number of animals auctioned at supervised public markets.
Allocation of quota shares based on number of animals slaughtered
For meat and meat product categories 5.71 and 5.75, 40% of quota shares are allocated based on the number of animals slaughtered.
Special conditions for allocation of halal and kosher meat quotas
Members of Islamic and Jewish communities and their organisations receive shares of tariff quotas 5.3 and 5.4. These recipients must deliver the imported meat exclusively to recognised kosher/halal outlets or distribute it through their own recognised kosher/halal points of sale.
It is essential that points of sale approved for kosher and halal meat sell only meat from ritually slaughtered animals and never mix it with meat from animals that were stunned before slaughter.
Customers are informed of the provisions outlined in the Slaughter Animals Ordinance (SIAO, Arts 18 and 18a). All points of sale are inspected and approved by the Federal Office for Agriculture. If you belong to one of these religious communities and are interested in becoming an importer, please email ein-und-ausfuhr@blw.admin.ch with your details.
Further information
The FOAG provides a reduced English-language version of its website that does not include all further information such as documents, legislation or links. These can be found on the pages in the three official languages (German, French and Italian).