we plan to relocate to swiss and want to know if i can bring food stuff like food grains and indian spices. Also if some one can guide on whether I can bring Indian traditional medicines (ayurveda) along. All the above is only for personal comsumption. Advise in this regards will help.

The country is called SWITZERLAND by the way...

Hi.
You can bring prescribed medicines (of course, personal use, no commercial quantities). But I guess no herbal medicines at all.
Btw, good luck with your move!
Regards,

AbFab, don't get this excited here This will happen another million times

Welcome to the EF. You should be able to find shops with Indian spices here in Switzerland, otherwise get a hint for the business

We relocated using Crown International. They told us it was okay as long as we provided a full disclousure of the food stuff.

We packed quite a few spices and also curry pastes. Even had quite a few toiletry things. It wasnt a problem at all. I am not sure if they openned it up at customs to check.

It was nice to arrive here but be able to unpack familiar things. And I guess it is comforting to know that at least for the first few months you have the important things in your cupboard until you are able to find a shop here that stocks it. The funny thing is that most of what we brought is easily available at the asian grocery stores. And the prices are not that much different to Australia.

Good Luck with the move.

I would bring as much spices and dals as possible, because they are expensive (compared to India), also you are allowed to bring herbal medicines, dont know where fran001 got the information from that herbal medicines arent allowed.

Heard it just from my travel agency before leaving off for CH.

This doesn't exactly answer your question, but gives nevertheless an idea where to ask.

http://switzerland.angloinfo.com/cou...nd/moving3.asp

I recently purchased some spices in Switzerland and they did turn out to be as good as stated on the packet, but I recommend you bring what you like in the away of spices to Suisse and let the customs taste it that'll surely take the stern look of their faces

I regularly visit my family the UK and bring Indian spices and food back to Suisse on FAB "SWISS" Airlines and so far I have had no hasle at all

Enjoy and welcome to Swiss/Suisse/Switzerland/Schweiz what ever you may want to call it, you might even have name for it of your own, when you have been here after a while

In fact on the FCA website there is no specific mention of whether food items / indian spices are allowed in SWITZERLAND or not Did anyone face an issue with customs while importing above stuff as a part of cargo? I believe it may be ok to get small quantities in personal luggage.

By the way thanks for sharing your experiences.

s-hobi,

Thanks for the specific information. Can you pl elaborate on what do you mean by proper "disclosure"

No restriction on bringing spices, medicines, etc. in quantities for personal consumption. If it looks like you are opening a condiments shop, then you would be expected to pay some import taxes.

This post is from last year so I think the OP is now well informed and know all Indian shops in CH.

Spices, particularily in powder form, are no problem, and ayurveda and things thelike are no problem either. But please abstain from taking any kind of meat or fresh vegetables with you. Swiss customs officials in such a case become quite unpleasant. And be aware that quite a lot of such stuff is already on sale here by the Indian/Bangladeshi/SriLankan/Pakistani community



quote=Sada;349655]AbFab, don't get this excited here This will happen another million times [/quote]

Anyway, if he arrives at Zurich-Airport it will be "Schweiz", if he arrives in Geneva it will be "Suisse" and if arrives at Lugano Airport it will be "Svizzera".

i brought kilos and kilos of spices on the off chance it would be difficult/expensive to buy in CH.

don't know if legal or not, none of the forms i filled in mentioned restrictions on this and in the end, i was never checked at customs - they just stamped the inventory and let me through.

I for many years, when on holidays in Britain, took Indian spices etc back home to Zurich, and there was never any problem. I also, when the choice was not yet as good as now, took teas home, also without any problem.

the origin as such does not matter, so that spices from wherever are no problem. You mention food. Again, fresh meat would cause problems while dried meat does not. Whether in aircargo or in personal luggage, please abstain from taking fresh meat or vegetables with you. Spices are definitely no problem (if in heavy quantities consult the customs officials who will appreciate an open play ---- they once or twice allowed me through with far too much wine on the basis of "tolerance" exactly BECAUSE I consulted them) and dried meat is also ok. Again, in case of doubt do not hesitate to consult the customs officials, they usually are quite open-minded.

here is the section out of "TARES", the Swiss Customs Tariff, about herbal medicines

Datum: 29.09.2009 Land: Indien Verkehrsrichtung: Einfuhr D.4 D.6 Tarifnummer: 1211.9000 ZC: Schlüssel: Anmerkungen Bemerkungen TarifnummerZCZARText1211 Pflanzen, Pflanzenteile, Samen und Früchte der hauptsächlich zur Riechmittelherstellung oder zu Zwecken der Medizin, Insektenvertilgung, Schädlingsbekämpfung oder dergleichen verwendeten Arten, frisch oder getrocknet, auch zerschnitten, zerstossen oder in Pulverform:1211.9000 - andere Zollansätze:
Normal 0.00 Fr. je 100 kg brutto

it even is customs-duties-free, but of course if imported in commercial quantities is subject to 7,6% VAT

Does Evergreen exports supplies spices and food items to SWITZERLAND?