New Import Restrictions from 1st July 2014

For those of you who drive to Switzerland and shop en route:

As of 1/7/14 there are new import restriction rules for visitors to Switzerland. We were stopped yesterday for the first time in 10 years at a minor Border crossing and our car inspected and us questioned. They were mainly interested in food, furniture (oddly) and my DSLR equipment.

Full details are at
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/04342/04343/05761/index.html?lang=en
but some key points:
- A limit of CHF 300 per person of goods recently purchased;
- Individual allowances can be aggregated, but ...;
- No one item more than CHF 300;
- Additional limits for certain foods, alcohol and cigarettes etc.

In particular not more than
- 1kg meat
- 5L alcohol of up to 18%
per person.

For those of you who shop en route in France you should be prepared to be questioned and keep these limits in mind. I'd suggest that any for any new-looking, high-value items, like laptops or DSLRs, you have the original invoice with you to avoid any arguments. And get your vignette before you travel rather than have to stop to buy one under the eyes of suspicious Border Officers.

The main aim, I think, is to deter Swiss residents from shopping over the border and foreign owners furnishing their apartments and chalets with UK and French meubles without paying Swiss VAT.