Japanese makers often ask whether entering Switzerland also opens the European Union. The honest answer is: partly. Switzerland sits at the centre of Europe but is not an EU member. It has its own customs territory, its own currency and its own product rules, most of which are closely aligned with the EU but not identical.
Goods entering Switzerland are cleared by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security. Goods later sold into the EU must be cleared a second time at the EU border. Fujisan plans this from the start: shipments intended for both markets are split or routed so that each lot is cleared once, in the right territory.
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc. Prices, margins and VAT (8.1 % standard rate, 2.6 % on food) are calculated in CHF, while EU clients work in euros. We quote in the currency of each market so that neither side carries the exchange-rate risk alone.
For food, cosmetics and most consumer goods, Swiss ordinances mirror EU regulations closely. A label prepared for Switzerland in German, French and Italian is also usable in Germany, Austria, France and Italy with minor changes. Technical standards and CE marking are recognised in Switzerland for most product groups through the mutual recognition agreement.
Switzerland is a demanding, premium market where quality is paid for. A product that succeeds here carries a strong reference into the EU. From Lugano, the Italian market is at the doorstep, and Fujisan structures each partnership so that a Swiss launch can be extended to selected EU countries when the time is right.
Have a product for this market? Send us a short presentation. We reply within a few working days with a first assessment, in English or Japanese.
Contact FujisanThis guide is general information prepared by Fujisan Sagl and is not legal advice. Regulations change; we verify the applicable requirements for each product before import.
