BIO SUISSE
Margarethenstrasse 87 | CH-4053 Basel
Telephone 061 385 96 10 | Fax 061 385 96 11
www.bio-suisse.ch | bio@bio-suisse.ch
http://www.bio-suisse.ch/en/importexport/accesstoswissmarket.php
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REQUIREMENTS FOR BIO SUISSE APPROVAL

IMPORTATION INTO SWITZERLAND

Requirements for Bio Suisse approval (PDF 76 KB)

COMPLIANCE WITH BIO SUISSE STANDARDS

The Bio Suisse standards differ from minimum governmental regulations (e.g. those of the EU) in several important respects (see the information note Summary of the Bio Suisse standards for producers outside of Switzerland (PDF 122 KB)
Especially noteworthy are: The whole-farm approach, the establishment of areas dedicated to the enhancement of biodiversity, and rigorous limits on the intensity of fertilization and on the use of copper.





DETAILED DOCUMENTATION OF THE FARMING, PROCESSING OR TRADING OPERATION

Bio Suisse requires full documentation of the operation in order to be able to check compliance with Bio Suisse standards:
  • For farming operations: Bio Suisse checklist for individual producers (PDF 138 KB) (filled in by the inspection body), current inspection report and certificate as well as - for first approval - the inspection report of the previous year and a field maps.
  • For the approval of processing and trading operations: Bio Suisse checklist for processing and trade (PDF 77 KB) with all the enclosures mentioned therein.
  • For the approval of cooperatives/producer groups and of projects for the collection of wild plants specific documents are required.
The more complete the documentation is, the more quickly the application can be processed (average duration of the whole approval procedure: 4-6 weeks)!

NO CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATION WITHOUT POTENTIAL PURCHASER IN SWITZERLAND!

The application for approval of an operation out¬side of Switzerland must be made formally by an importer in Switzerland. This importer must either be or be in process of becoming a Bio Suisse Bud label licence holder. The Swiss importer is charged the fees for processing the application.
Bio Suisse approval does not confer a right to use the Bio Suisse Bud label on products. This right is reserved exclusively to the Bio Suisse license holder importing the products.

ANNUAL RENEWAL

The approval procedure must be repeated every year!
All operations approved receive a written approval decision from Bio Suisse as confirmation of conformity with Bio Suisse standards.
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