If you buy from us delivered in Switzerland, none of this is your problem — it is already done. This page exists because customers ask, and because understanding it explains part of why coffee costs what it costs.
Tariff classification
| Product | Customs tariff heading |
|---|---|
| Green coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated | 0901.11 |
| Green coffee, not roasted, decaffeinated | 0901.12 |
| Roasted coffee, not decaffeinated | 0901.21 |
| Roasted coffee, decaffeinated | 0901.22 |
| Coffee husks and skins (qishr) | 0901.90 |
Duty and VAT
Swiss customs duty on coffee is levied by weight rather than by value, and the rate differs between green and roasted — which is one reason importing green and roasting locally is the usual model. Coffee is a foodstuff and therefore falls under the reduced rate of Swiss VAT rather than the standard rate.
The compulsory stockpiling levy
This is the one that surprises people. Switzerland maintains mandatory national reserves of essential goods, and coffee is on that list. Anyone importing coffee pays a levy per kilogram into the guarantee fund administered by réservesuisse, and importers above a threshold must also hold physical reserve stock or arrange for it to be held. If you plan to import directly rather than buy from a Swiss supplier, register with réservesuisse before your first shipment, not after it.
Labelling
Coffee sold in Switzerland must be labelled under Swiss foodstuffs law: product designation, country of production, net weight, lot number, durability date and the name and address of the responsible business, in at least one official language. For roasted coffee the roast date is not legally required, but we print it anyway.
Re-export into the EU
Switzerland is not in the EU customs union, so a shipment moving on into the EU is a fresh import there. Beyond the customs formalities, coffee placed on the EU market falls within the scope of the EU deforestation regulation, which requires geolocation data and a due-diligence statement. Timelines for that regulation have shifted more than once — check the current position before you plan around it. Ask us for the origin documentation you would need.
What we handle
- Import, clearance and levy for coffee delivered within Switzerland.
- Certificates of origin and phytosanitary paperwork where required.
- Lot documentation: crop year, region, collection point.
- Export documentation for onward shipment, on request.