Unless you are permitted to provide an origin declaration, you will need to fill in a certificate of origin so that your good can benefit from preferential treatment.

What

Under the agreementrevised covers

Alternatively, you may be permitted to provide an origin declaration. Your declaration should appear by typing, stamping or printing on the invoice, the delivery note or another commercial document, the text below.

UK exporters should keep a copy of the EUR1 or Origin Declaration and any supporting documents for three years. You should also be prepared to provide the necessary information upon request.

As an importer, you must be prepared to make the proof of origin for your goods available to HMRC upon request.

Declaration on origin

The declaration on origin can be found in Annex III to the amended Protocol 3 to the UK-Switzerland tradeFTA agreementwhich willis formset out in Decision 2/2001 of the basisJoint Committee. The declaration on origin must use the following wording: 

The exporter of economicthe products covered by this document (customs authorisation No … (1)) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of … (2) preferential origin.

… (3) (Place and tradedate)

… (4) relations(Signature betweenof the exporter, in addition the name of the person signing the declaration has to be indicated in clear script).

Notes

(1) When the origin declaration is made out by an approved exporter, the authorisation number of the approved exporter must be entered in this space. When the origin declaration is not made out by an approved exporter, the words in brackets shall be omitted or the space left blank. 

(2) Origin of products to be indicated.

(3) These indications may be omitted if the information is contained on the document itself.

(4) In cases where the exporter is not required to sign, the exemption of signature also implies the exemption of the name of the signatory.

Using EU materials and processing in your exports to Switzerland  

You can use EU materials or processing in your exports to Switzerland. The UK and Switzerland aftermust have fulfilled the necessary requirements set out in the Annex on Rules of Origin to the FTA. You must also ensure the working or processing you do in the UK hasgoes leftbeyond the EU.minimal operations listed in the FTA and that the other relevant conditions are met. 

For example, you cannot simply package or label a product from the EU and export it to Switzerland as a good originating in the UK.

See the list of minimal operations in Article 6 of the Annex on Rules of Origin to the FTA.

The UK-Switzerlandability agreementto covers:consider materials from, or processing carried out in, another country as originating when incorporated into your product is called cumulation.

• Using materials or processing from other countries in your exports to Switzerland

  If both the UK and Switzerland have a trade agreement with one of the other countries listed in Annex VIII to the Annex on the Rules of Origin in the FTA, you can use materials, and in some cases, processing from that country in your exports to Switzerland. You must ensure that the working or processing you do in the UK goes beyond the minimal operations listed in the FTA and that the other relevant conditions are fulfilled.

  Sending your goods –to includingSwitzerland provisionsthrough other countries  

  Transit through any third country is possible provided your goods remain under customs surveillance.

  Goods must not be altered in any way on their journey. However, a limited number of operations such as the adding or affixing of marks, labels and seals may be undertaken provided this takes place under customs supervision. Consignments may also be split, again provided this takes place under customs supervision.

  Goods in transit and retrospective certificates of origin  

  If your goods were in transit when revised rules of origin,origin preferentialbetween tariffsthe UK and quotas,Switzerland took effect on 1 September 2021, you can obtain a retrospective certificate of origin. A proof of origin may be completed retrospectively up to two years after 1 September 2021.

  You can get retrospective certificates of origin from your usual provider. 

  Conformity assessment

  On 17 November 2022, the UK and Switzerland signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) to reduce non-tariff measuresbarriers related to conformity assessment in 5 sectors:

  • electrical equipment and electromagnetic compatibility
  • geographicalmeasuring indicationsinstruments
  • radio –equipment
  • transportable pressure equipment
  • noise emitting equipment for use outdoors

  The MRA allows for these aregoods to be tested in the signsUK usedagainst toSwiss identifyregulations. aThe productgoods whosecan quality,then reputationbe sold in Switzerland without additional testing there. Equally, the MRA sets out how relevant goods can be tested in Switzerland against UK regulations. The goods can then be sold in the UK without additional testing.

  Read the treaty text and explanatory memorandum.

  Customs security

  If you are directly exporting products to, or otherimporting characteristicproducts from Switzerland, your products may need to undergo additional checks at the border. This is linkedbecause the continuity of the terms of the EU-Switzerland Customs Security Measures Agreement are subject to further discussion with Switzerland and the placeEU.

  Geographical itindications

  Geographical comesindications from(GIs) protect the geographical names of food, drink and agricultural products.

  Both the UK and Switzerland’s existing GIs remain covered by this agreement. There are 45 UK GIs protected in this agreement.

  Trade in services

  The UK-Switzerland agreement does not cover trade in services. However, we have taken steps to ensure that services trade can continue between the UK and Switzerland.

  If you’re a UK business providing services in Switzerland, you’ll need to follow Swiss regulations about:

  • getting an authorisation or licence to provide a service
  • governmentcomplying procurementwith local business regulations
  • EEA nationality requirements which could prevent you from providing services in some sectors

  Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement

  TheYou agreementmay doesbenefit notfrom containthe somepart provisionsof commonlythe foundSwiss inCitizens’ freeRights tradeAgreement agreementswhich (FTAs).deals Forwith example,service onprovision. This would apply to service provision contracts that have been agreed and where implementation started before 1 January 2021.

  Services Mobility Agreement

  You may benefit from the Services Mobility Agreement (SMA) which allows UK professionals to provide services in Switzerland for up to 90 days without a work permit.

  This would apply to service provision contracts that have been agreed and intellectualwhere propertyimplementation rights.has started on or after 1 January 2021.

  When

  The SMA also establishes a working group, through which the UK and Switzerland aim to develop a comprehensive agreement ison activethe recognition of professional qualifications for service suppliers working in each other’s markets.

  Find out more about providing services to Switzerland.

  Further information

  Find further guidance on exporting.

  Find out about moving goods into, out of, or through Northern Ireland.

  Freight forwarding may save you time and money if you’re exporting large volumes of goods or high value items by sea or air freight. Find out more about moving goods and using freight forwarders.

  This agreementguidance willis takefor effectinformation afteronly. Brexit,You whenshould theconsult EU-Switzerlandyour trade-relatedlegal agreementsadvisers noif longeryou applywish to ensure you understand the UK.legal implications of trading for your business.

  Contact

  If you have queries about tradetrade, after Brexit contact the Department for International Trade (DIT).(DIT).

  Further

  Should information

  • Exportyou wish to Switzerlandspeak afterto Brexitsomeone ifdirectly, there’swe nohave deallocal trade offices based around the UK. Within each office, you can contact an international trade adviser. Find your local trade office
  .