Swiss-EU package: Federal Council opens consultation
At its meeting on 13 June 2025, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the Swiss-EU package. The new protocol on food safety strengthens consumer protection and plant and animal health. Read about the advantages at a glance.
Swiss-EU: Agreement on agriculture and food safety
Trade in food and agricultural products between Switzerland and the EU is worth more than CHF 16 billion every year. The EU is Switzerland's main trading partner. Agricultural products provide a clear illustration of this: 50% of Swiss exports in this sector go to the EU, while 74% of imports originate from the EU.
Switzerland has reached agreement with the EU on stabilising the agreement on agriculture and, in addition to its further development, on a new protocol on food safety. The agreement offers significant advantages for the Swiss food industry, for plant and animal health and for consumer protection.
The advantages at a glance
- Closer cooperation beetween Switzerland and EU
A common food safety area strengthens cooperation between Switzerland and the EU along the entire food supply chain: the safety of agricultural products and foods in mutual trade is guaranteed in the long term, and consumer protection and the prohibition of misleading practices are strengthened. - Market access
The removal of non-tariff trade barriers in the common food safety area will facilitate access to the EU market for Swiss farmers and food producers. - Sovereign agricultural policy
Switzerland will continue to shape its agricultural policy independently. Border protection (customs duties and quotas) for agricultural products will remain unchanged. - Food safety
Switzerland will get access to the relevant EU networks and working groups, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), EU risk assessments and EU early alert systems. Switzerland will be included in the EU system for the authorisation of plant protection products. It has also been agreed that the obligation to indicate the country of origin will remain in place for foods sold in Switzerland. - Combating fraud
Joint efforts to combat counterfeiting and fraud offer the Swiss food industry greater protection and thus strengthen consumer protection. - Genetically modified organisms (GMO)
Switzerland has a more restrictive legislation on GMOs than the EU. Swiss regulations on GMOs remain in place for animal feed, seeds and foodstuffs as an exemption. - Animal welfare
Switzerland's higher animal welfare standards will remain in place. The ban on animal transit has also been permanently secured, as an exemption. - Animal health
Closer cooperation between Switzerland and the EU strengthens the joint fight against animal diseases that can potentially be transmitted to humans and cause major economic damage. It also strengthens the joint commitment to combating antibiotic resistance.
Consultation
At its meeting on 13 June 2025, the Swiss Federal Council opened the consultation procedure on the Switzerland-EU package. The consultation is expected to last until 31 October 2025.