Transit of animals and animal products originating in a third country

Several detailed control procedures apply to the transit of animals and animal products involving Switzerland and the EU.

General provisions

As soon as a veterinary border control is required at the airport in Zurich or Geneva or at an EU border control post, the following rule applies: the border control post must be notified of the arrival of the consignment no later than one business day before the aircraft is due to land for animals, and no later than four hours before the aircraft is due to land for animal products.

If the party importing the consignment is domiciled in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Northern Ireland, this party must provide notification of the consignment in the TRACES electronic system. Alternatively, the importer may manually complete page 1 of the CHED (see “More information”).

The transit of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses for slaughter and poultry for slaughter by road through Switzerland is prohibited for animal welfare reasons.

Transit by rail or by road vehicle

Any consignment of live animals or animal products originating from a third country that arrives in Switzerland or the EU is subject to a full check (documentary, identity, physical) if it continues its journey by rail or by road vehicle, irrespective of the country of final destination.

For Switzerland, the airports of Zurich and Geneva conduct the veterinary controls for animals and animal products in accordance with the applicable conditions governing imports.

A CHED (Common Health Entry Document) is issued to prove that this has taken place; this document must travel with the consignment until the final destination (see “More information”).

The general provisions must also be complied with.

Transit by air

When originating in a third country and landing in Switzerland or the EU, consignments of animal products are subject to a documentary check if they will remain at the airport, at the official designated site, for a period in excess of 72 hours. Consignments of live animals are subject to a documentary check if they do not leave the aircraft and to a full inspection if they are unloaded from the aircraft. This measure does not apply to all categories of animals and depends on compliance with import conditions (Art. 61, ITEO-TC).

Consignments of live animals or animal products originating in a third country that land in Switzerland in order to fly on directly to another third country are subject to the provisions that apply in the country of destination. The transit of animals and animal products originating in a third country where imports into Switzerland are banned due to epizootic policing measures is prohibited.

The general provisions must also be complied with.

For the corresponding legislation, see “More information”.