The preferential domain is the framework for businesses that export their goods to countries having signed preferential economic agreements with our country.

This is the case for Switzerland, with the free-trade agreement signed with the European Union, the countries of the European Free-Trade Association (EFTA) and Central and Eastern European Countries (PECOs), as well as  Turkey and Israel. These agreements allow an appreciable simplification of procedures, as well as a reduction in documentary logistics.

Thus, for goods originating from the free-trade zone, customs authorities will accept the following documents as proof of origin:

• a EUR 1 movement certificate for goods whose value does not exceed CHF 10,300 or € 6,000
• an invoice declaration with a value limit, i.e., CHF 10,300 or € 6,000 (in place of a EUR 1); the English text of the invoice declaration is as follows:
  • "The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorization No ... ) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of .….. preferential origin.
  • Place and date
    Signature and name of the person spelled out in full"
• an invoice declaration without a value limit, whose use is reserved to businesses having obtained certified exporter status from the Federal Customs Administration.
  The English text of the invoice declaration is as follows:
  • " The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs authorization No ... ) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of .….. preferential origin.”
• form "A", GSP (General System of Preference) for goods from developing countries
• form APR for postal consignments of goods from developing countries.

In the preferential domain, in addition to original documents, copies of import declarations (customs receipts) on which the proofs of origin supplied at the time of customs clearance are mentioned, are accepted as proofs of origin.

Just as in the case of the autonomous domain, a business could be required to justify the origin of the exported product, in general at the time of a company verification by the Swiss Federal Customs Administration or the Chamber of commerce.

It is, of course, preferable to have at hand all the elements allowing to prove the origin of the exported product (declared of Swiss or French preferential origin, for example). The above-mentioned determination of origin allows demonstration that the decomposition work has been done and that the company can justify its statements by means of impeccable documentary support.

In many cases, the Chamber of commerce can issue a certificate of origin only if it is in possession of a determination of origin. The particular cases mentioned above must also be discussed with a staff member of the external commerce department.

Information and appointments

Chambre vaudoise du commerce and de l'industrie (CVCI)
Mr. Serge Sahli
Avenue d'Ouchy 47, Case postale 315, 1001 Lausanne
Tel. +41 (21) 613 35 36 - Fax +41 (21) 613 35 05 - Email legal@cvci.ch

Department office hours: 8:00 – 11:45 am and 1:30 - 5:00  pm