Importing wine, liquid grape products and grapes for pressing
This page provides companies and private individuals with all the important information on importing wine, liquid grape products and grapes for wine production. It explains the documents required for import, the tariff quotas in place and how to obtain shares in these quotas. It also provides information on special cases.
Companies – Trading in wine and wine products
For imports over 20kg gross, you require a general important permit (GIP). You must first register with the Swiss Wine Trade Inspection (SWTI). Registration is subject to a fee but is only required if you are a trader. Once you have registered with the SWTI, you can use the Federal Office for Agriculture’s (FOAG) application eKontingente (is only available in GER/FRE/ITA) to apply for a free and unlimited GIP. You will receive the GIP within one or two working days.
Private individuals, including online orders
For imports up to 20kg gross (approx. 17 bottles of 0.75 litres each), the FOAG has delegated responsibility for issuing permits to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS). If you have any questions, please contact the FOCBS or the relevant customs office.
For imports over 20kg gross, private individuals also generally require a GIP. You must first register with SWTI. Registration is subject to a fee but is only required if the wine is intended for trade (resale). If the wine is not intended for trade (e.g. one-off imports for private use), please contact the FOCBS or the relevant customs office directly.
If you are bringing the goods across the border yourself, please also note the duty-free allowances and limits. Contact details and further information can be found on the FOCBS website.
Special cases
Importing products from your own vineyard
Each household or business is allowed to import 100 litres of wine per year for its own use. The wine must be in containers that hold more than two litres. You must fill out an application to import wine from your own vineyard. Official proof of ownership must be enclosed with the application.
Contingent particulier – wine in barrels from regions with a protected designation of provenance
This special quota is based on a trade agreement between Switzerland and France dating back to 1965. Private individuals and restaurants can import wine with a protected designation of provenance from France in barrels. The wine must be intended for your own use or for serving in your own establishment.
The import licence will be issued once your application for a ‘contingent particulier’ import licence and your order confirmation have been checked by the Fédération des Négociants-Eleveurs de Grande Bourgogne (is only available in FRE). Please note that it can take two to three months for your import licence to be issued.
Do I need a GIP and/or SWTI registration?
What quotas are there and how can I obtain a share?
Tariff quotas no 23, 24 and 25 for wine (white wine, red wine and rosé wine) comprise a total of 1,700,000 hectolitres per calendar year that can be imported at the quota tariff. The requirement for this is a GIP from the FOAG. These tariff quotas are allocated based on the order in which the customs declaration was submitted at the border (first come, first served). Current quota statuses can be found at the Link : Quota status (FOCBS) (Quota status is only available in GER/FRE/ITA).
Tariff quota no 22 (grape juice) comprises 100,000 hectolitres per calendar year and applies to grape juice, diluted grape juice and grapes for pressing. It is possible to exceed the quota. The requirement for imports under this quota is a GIP from the FOAG.
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).
Index
Other topics
General import permits (GIPs)
On this page, importers can find information about general import permits (GIPs) for agricultural products.
Allocation procedures for tariff quotas
On this page, importers will find information on allocation procedures for tariff quotas.