Swiss Post: Launch of new carrier from 1 September 2025
Dear partners,
We are pleased to announce the launch of a new parcel delivery service to Switzerland. We have established direct cooperation with Swiss Post, bringing you an improved system with a range of benefits:
- Broader options for customs clearance
- Efficient resolution of problematic shipments through direct communication
- Option for delivery against recipient’s signature
- This service also supports delivery to Liechtenstein
CH Swiss Post HD – ID 29738
CH Swiss Post Priority HD – ID 30383
This service will be available from 1.9.2025
1. Onboarding
How to start using the service?
To use the delivery service to Switzerland, a one-time onboarding is required. During this process, we will collect the necessary customs clearance information from you. Once received, we will confirm the activation of the service.
❗The service cannot be used without completing the onboarding process.
How to begin onboarding?
Simply contact us at: customs@packeta.com
We will provide you with all necessary information and initiate the onboarding approval process with you.
Together with onboarding, please also contact your account manager to discuss pricing conditions for this service.
Have you shipped to Switzerland in the past 3 months?
If you have sent a shipment to Switzerland through our original solution in the last three months, we will prepare onboarding for you without a prior request and contact you via email with the next steps.
We will provisionally onboard your accounts based on the following assumptions:
- No VAT registration in Switzerland
- No ZAZ/CSP account ownership
- Not shipping via a marketplace
If you have or use any of the above options, please contact us at customs@packeta.com so we can implement the necessary changes in your onboarding.
Original solution ends 31.10. 2025
The original delivery method to Switzerland will only be available until 31.10. 2025. By that time, it is necessary to prepare for the new solution and successfully complete onboarding.
Please note that onboarding may take several business days, so we recommend not leaving the process until the last minute to avoid possible delivery interruptions to this destination.
2. Custom declaration
Below are important details regarding customs declarations – including both new requirements and reminders of previously introduced obligations that must be followed when shipping parcels outside the EU.
Key items in customs declarations
- Salt
Salt cannot be freely imported into Switzerland, as it is a state-regulated commodity. The Swiss government holds a monopoly on salt import and distribution for historical and domestic production protection reasons.
Anyone wishing to import salt requires a special permit and authorization from Swiss authorities. Without this permit, it is not possible to export products containing salt to Switzerland.
These regulations apply to solid substances with 30% or more sodium chloride and liquid substances with 18% or more sodium chloride. Products with lower concentrations may be imported without restrictions.
If your products exceed these sodium chloride limits and you have the required permit, please inform us at customs@packeta.com
- VOC
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. These are chemical substances that easily evaporate into the air – often found in paints, varnishes, cleaning agents, cosmetics, and aerosols.
If the shipment contains products with VOC content, this information must be included in the customs declaration.
The amount of VOC in the product should be stated in kilograms (kg).
- Precious metals
Precious metals include items containing silver, gold, palladium, or platinum – even products merely plated with silver. These commodities are subject to special customs reporting requirements.
If you ship such goods, please provide the relevant information during onboarding via customs@packeta.com
- Book/food
Books and certain food items are subject to a reduced VAT rate in Switzerland (2.6% instead of the standard 8.1%).
By selecting this option, you can apply the lower VAT rate upon import – reducing total import costs.
This applies to, for example:
- Printed books, brochures, magazines without advertising nature
- Basic food products such as bread, pasta, rice, non-alcoholic drinks, dairy products
⚠️ If this information is not specified, the full 8.1% rate may be automatically applied.
- EAN (optional field)
We are preparing a new return solution in the future, for which EAN codes will be required. For now, this field remains optional and does not need to be filled out.
Link to technical documentation is avaliable here.
Recommendations for correct customs declaration entry
Customs code – For export purposes, use the 8-digit TARIC code, available here.
Product name – Provide a full product description including material, not just the sales name
Example:
❌ Incorrect – YOBELLA XY 123
✅ Correct – cotton t-shirt YOBELLA XY 123
It is important to follow the text input rules. The product name and description in the customs declaration must be in English, with an optional entry in the local language. No other format is allowed.
Please follow these rules for all shipments outside the EU.
Delivery against signature
We now offer the option of delivery against recipient’s signature.
We especially recommend this service if you have experienced delivery discrepancies or are shipping high-value parcels.
Your account manager will provide you with pricing for this service.