Hi all,

I will be flying from the UK on Sunday and I was just wondering if it would be OK to buy a turkey there, considering I will not have much time to buy one in Geneva? Would I be allowed to bring in a frozen one for instance? Would this not cause me problems when i go through security check? I notice that the customs limit for poultry is 3.5 kg if this is still the case.

Cheers.

You can bring in more that the limit. But you have to declare it at customers and then pay the import duties on what is over the limit.

It's much much more expensive if you get caught having not declared it, 2x as much for the duty (IIRC) plus a fine.

Thanks. I just need one small bird and would love to avoid having to go to shopping on Christmas eve.

Picked up some beer on the way through Belgium the other week, our Christmas Amber Nectar. I said I had beer in the back at the Swiss border, however the Grenzwache was more interested in the typo on my Swiss car tax document and ignored the fact that I declared the beer. After 10 minutes of faffing about, he asked, what have you in the back? I said Beer, he let me go anyway.
30 Litres of Belgian quality, Westmalle, Grimbergen, Hoegaarden and a couple of Lambics...

For the trouble and time it will take to get the duty for a few kilos of turkey they will probably let her go. But she needs to declare it.

We've been let go a few times telling them we had "wine" in the back when coming back from Italy.

And just a week ago, they let me through when I had 300E worth of stuff when the limit is 300CHF. I hadn't though about the difference.

Important to remember that it is the tax-free value of the goods, so usually around 250 Euro.

For meat, I would err on the side of caution. The duty on meat is very high...

Actually, the duty is normal, plus up to 4x the duty as a fine.

The duty is 8% VAT plus a certain number of CHF/kg, depending on the type of meat (CHF 16 for beef, less for poultry).

Tom

Oh no, think about the duty they missed to charge: CHF 7.50. (Highlight to see the unbelievable huge amount).

I thought, it's 20CHF/kg for beef.
[...]
Yup, that's it:
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en
Max 20kg.

And 13CHF/kg for poulet.

Group A.
20 CHF/kg for Meat and edible offal, fresh, chilled or frozen: beef, veal, pork, lamb, goat, horse, donkey and mule (*) (Duty free limit is 0.5 kg)

(*) Also includes seasoned meat from this group with ingredients which can be easily removed (entire pepper corns, juniper berries, cloves, bay leaves, rosemary sprigs or similar).

Group B.
13 CHF/kg for Meat and edible offal from all types of domestic poultry (chicken, duck, goose, turkey and guinea fowl) fresh, chilled or frozen, salted, dried or smoked; and Meat and edible offal from animals in group A (preserved in salt, dried or smoked) (Duty free limit is 3.5 kg)

Maximum is 20 kg for both groups.

See official English information. (Also look there regarding fish, mussels, snails, honey and other food stuff) Observe limitation on country of origin.

20 for beef - but only if you declare. If not and caught it is 40 + possible fine.

Just to kind of highjack this thread as its about import,

I did look around, there was a brief thread about this gammon ham. But as xmas is coming up, I want a proper gammon ham, the kind of thing you boil up for 45 mins or so, score it, cover in honey and mustard and cloves, wrap it, bake in the oven for 30mins and end up with this:



They can be bought in the UK for 10 pound coins (I just literally phoned dad, home with man flu, who just picked it up out the fridge bought yesterday and confirmed as much)

I can order online from Peace Foods (found them on another thread), for 108 CHF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! I am sorry, but that is disgusting price, unless they are preparing it, cooking it, delivering it, cutting it up, and feeding it to me from a naked woman, even then, I am hesitant.

Anyhow, last year, i found some ham thing, smoked though, in migros. It was ok, not quite the same though. Wasn't as moreish and tender. This year, I want the real thing.

If I understand the rules correctly, I can bring one 3.5kg in for free without having to declare it? or do I still need to declare it but not pay duty on it? And the duty (additional) is what? 20chf per additional kilo? Still be cheaper to import the ham it seems.

Is it 3.5kg per person? i.e. I have friend and his girlfriend coming this Friday, can they bring one each? Also have 8 family members coming on 28th, for arguments sake, could they bring one each? I dont need 8, but just wondering.

Of course, any tip on what can be bought here to produce same results that is not a complete rip off i.e.not 5 times the price of the UK than I will buy it here.

Thanks

It's 500g (gammon is raw pork)

Tom

And how much additional for each extra 500gram?

CHF 20/kg, so CHF 10/500g.

I notice that gammon can also be smoked, in which case it is 3.5kg.

Tom

I'd suggest a RATO (Rocket Assisted Take Off) pack be attached to the flightless bird and teach it some airworthiness so it can fly here itself.

besides the 7 franc savings , I can spare a couple of bottles of the good stuff if your feeling a bit envious?

Isn't it cured with salt/brine? Then it will be the higher limit/lower tariff too.

You do not have to declare it by your own but when asked have to tell the truth.

It is per person. But you cannot pool it to bring in one large peace, like a whole hog.
I think Gammon would be Hinterschinken/Beinschinken. Ask your local butcher. But taste can depend on brine used and if smoked or not.

Hmmm. Very, very tempting. But there must be more that I will reveal my secret identity.

How about that Hoegaarden Pony Keg?!

You are not allowed to carry a frozen turkey in your hand luggage and it will be confiscated.