STATE TRADING
new and
full Notification Pursuant to Article XVII:4(a) of the
GATT 1994
and Paragraph 1 of the Understanding on
the Interpretation of Article XVII
Switzerland
The following communication,
dated 17 March 2014, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Switzerland.
_______________
1 ENUMERATION OF STATE TRADING ENTERPRISES
Swiss Alcohol Board; Federal Department of
Finance.
2 REASON AND PURPOSE
The
Alcohol Legislation, which is regulates with the manufacture, rectification and
import of spirits and ethanol, was established in Switzerland for public health
reasons.
It is
based on Article 105 of the Federal Constitution, which gives the Federation
the sole right to legislate in this field. Pursuant to that constitutional
basis, the Federal Assembly promulgated the Federal Law on Alcohol of 21 June
1932. This legislation aims at reducing the production and consumption of
spirits.
3 DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STATE TRADING ENTERPRISE
The
private sector is allowed to import ethanol and spirits containing not more
than 80% by volume without restriction and without any permit. The taxes, fixed
by the Federal Council, have to be paid on imported goods as well as on the
domestic production.
For
control reasons, the Swiss Confederation, through "alcosuisse", a profit centre of the Alcohol Board, is entitled to
import ethanol whose alcohol content exceeds 80% by volume. However, imports by
the private sector are possible subject to prior authorization by the Alcohol
Board.
Inside
the country, ethanol and spirits are not produced by the Alcohol Board itself,
but by the private sector which, for control reasons, has been granted a
concession (industrial and professional producers, farmers, small producers).