The border veterinary service (BVS) operated by the FSVO ensures that animals and products from third countries comply with the legal requirements when entering Switzerland.
Animals, foodstuffs and animal products may pose a risk to human and animal health in Switzerland if they fail to meet the import regulations. The BVS carries out checks at Zurich and Geneva airports to ensure compliance with legislation on animal diseases, animal welfare, species conservation and foodstuffs in particular.
Coordination of controls with the EU
Thanks to bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU, a border veterinary control conducted at an EU border control post is also valid in Switzerland (and vice versa). There have been no border veterinary controls in bilateral trade with the EU since 2009.
Veterinary border controls
Animals, animal products and certain plant-based foodstuffs must be controlled by the veterinary border service on import or during transit. The animals and animal products that are subject to veterinary border controls are set out in Article 6 of the Federal Department of Home Affairs Ordinance on the Import, Transit and Export of Animals and Animal Products in Exchanges with Third Countries. The plant-based foodstuffs that are subject to controls are set out in Annexes 2 and 3 to the Ordinance on the Implementation of Foodstuffs Legislation (FLIO). Shipments from third countries that are subject to controls must be imported by air (with air waybill). The fees for veterinary border controls are set in accordance with the FSVO Fees Ordinance and Annex 4 to the FLIO.
Species conservation inspections by the BVS
Many animals, plants and products derived from them are also subject to species conservation legislation. Here, too, the BVS carries out import controls to check compliance with the regulations to protect endangered species.
Detailed information on inspections for compliance with species conservation legislation
More Information
Last modification 15.09.2025
