An amendment to the Customs Code is set to come into effect on 1 July 2009, establishing a prior notification requirement for the transfer of goods across the EU’s external borders. Switzerland and the EU have been in talks since 19 July 2007 on the amendment of the Agreement on the Carriage of Goods. Switzerland is seeking to prevent the introductio of additional controls in Swiss-EU bilateral trade.

Following the terror attacks of 11 September 2001 and subsequent efforts by the US and the World Customs Organization to enhance the security of the supply chain, the EU has also decided for security reasons to require prior notification of goods crossing its external borders as of 1 July 2009. This applies to both imports and exports. The prior notification period is 24 hours for goods crossing by sea, two hours for rail transport, and one hour for road transport, provided that the relevant data is in electronic format. If the summary declaration is not lodged in electronic format, the prior notification period is at least four hours. Exceptions may be made within the context of international  agreements.

Goods traffic between Switzerland and the EU was worth CHF 245 bn in 2006, of which CHF 110 bn was exports and CHF 135 bn in imports. Switzerland is thus the second-largest importer of EU goods. The envisaged prior notification requirement could severely impede the intense exchange of goods between Switzerland and the EU. There are also fears of traffic problems in the border areas.

Since 19  July 2007, the Federal Council has been holding talks with the EU within the context of the agreement of 21 November 1990 on the simplification of controls and formalities for the transport of goods (Agreement on the Carriage of Goods; SR 0.631.242.05). Switzerland is seeking to ensure mutual recognition of risk analysis and further security measures in order to prevent the introduction of additional goods controls in Swiss-EU bilateral trade. A number of solutions are currently under discussion with the EU. 

Source: Swiss Federal Customs Administration

From January 1st 2009 all cargo bound for China will be subject to the 24 hours advance manifest rule.

The loss of  24 hours to the current manifest filling of 48 hours will have a significant impact on the way carriers handle their documentation and operations for shipments bound for China. The shipping lines and their clients will be forced to adjust their internal workflow in order to meet the different time scale required by this new rule.Only the US and Canada have enforced such rules so far in order to prevent arms and ammunition from entering through the sea route.