y • -o UNITED GTATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine Washington, D. C B. E. P. Q..—413 September 28, 1936, PLANT-QUARANTINE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS OE THE REPUBLIC CI SWITZERLAND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine Washington, D. C. B. E. P. Q.~- 413 September 28, 1936. PLMT-QUASA1TTIFE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS OE THE REPUBLIC OE SWITZERLAND This summary of the plant-quarantine import restrictions of the Republic of Switzerland has been prepared for the information of nurserymen, plant-quarantine officials, and others interested in the exportation of plants and plant products to that country. It was prepared by Harry B- Shaw, Plant Quarantine Inspector, in Charge of Foreign Information Service, of the Division of Foreign Plant Quarantines, from the Erench and G-erman texts of the correspond- ing Swiss laws and regulations, and reviewed by the Division of Agriculture, Federal Department of Public Economy of the Republic of Switzerland. The information contained in this circular is believed to be correct and complete up to the time of preparation, but it is not intended to be used independently of, nor as a substitute for, the original texts, and it is not to be interpreted as legally authorita- tive. Chief, Bureau J i of Er LEE A. STRONG, Entomology and Plant Quarantine Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/switzpl36unit ?laiit^q;jakantine impost restrictions OF THE " REPUBLIC OE SWITZERLAND BASIC LEGISLATION Federal Lav/ of December 22, 1893, as amended "by those of October 5, 1929, and April 7, 1930, concerning the improvement of agriculture by the Federation, Article 12. "The Federal Council is authorized to order an efficacious supervision of vineyards and to take necessary preservative measures against the spread of phylloxera and other parasites, to prohibit the importation, traffic in, and exportation of plants, materials, and products that could serve as carriers of phylloxera or any other parasite menacing agriculture, and to enact penal provisions against violators, prescribing fines up to 1,000 fr. M ■ummary Importation Prohibited * GRAPEVINE STOCKS, SHOOTS, STEMS, LEAVES, REFUSE, IMPRESSED VINTAGE GRAPES, USED PROFS AND SUPPORTS, COMPOSTS, AND VEGETABLE MOLDS: Importation from any source prohibited, as a precaution against the introduction of Phylloxera vitifoliae Fitch. (Art. 57, Regulations of July 10, 1894. See p. 3.) Lmportation Restricted * TABLE AND VINTAGE GRAPES, GRAPE MARC, FRUIT TREES, STOCKS, AND SHRUBS proceeding from countries that do not adhere to the Interna- tional Phylloxera Convention of Berne: May be imported only with the permission of the Division of Agriculture of the Swiss Federal Department of Public Economy. (Art. 58 of the Regulations of July 10, 1894. See also the Order of Apr. 20, 1928, concerning fruits originating in the United States, pp. 3 and 6. ) * Items indicated by an asterisk concern the products of the United States. •2- STOCKS, SHRUBS, FRUIT TREE^, AND ALL PIPITS, EXCEPT GRAPEVINES, from :-'.atrJ 3 :"-■ t adhere to the Phylloxera Convention of Berne: May "be imported through designated ports, but must "be accompanied by a shipper ! s declaration of origin and a phylloxera certificate. (Arts. 61 and 62, Regulations of July 10, 1894. See p. 5.) *R00TSD VEGETABLES, SUCH AS EDIBLE BULBS, SALADS, ETC., from countries that do not adhere to the International Phylloxera Convention of Berne: May be imported into Switzerland only when accompanied by a phy to sanitary certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin. In the absence of that certificate, the products may be imported only under a special authorization of the Swiss Division of Agriculture. (Letter from the Swiss Division of Agriculture, June 13, 1936.) *FRESH FRUITS FROM THE UNITED STATES AKD AUSTRALIA: Subject to inspec- tion at the port of arrival in Switzerland, especially for San Jose scale ( Aspidi otus perniciosus Corns t.) and other injurious insects. Presence of San Jose scale will cause 'immediate destruc- tion of shipment* (Order of Apr. 20, 1928 p. 6.) FRESH FRUITS AND PLANTS FROM AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY: Every shipment of stone and pome fruits, trees, shrubs, and other living plants not in tubs or pots will be inspected at the frontier for San Jose scale and other pests. Shipments of trees, shrubs, and other living plants must be accompanied by a certificate in German, affirming freedom from plant pests and diseases and that they had been effectively fumigated with hydrocyanic acid gas and the containers sealed. (Decision of Oct. 25, 1932.) ♦POTATOES FOR CONSUMPTION; Must be accompanied by a certificate in French or German affirming freedom of place where grown from potato wart* (Order of Oct. 5, 1925, as amended, pp. 6 and 7.) SEED POTATOES: Certificate in French or German, in prescribed form, with shipments of seed potatoes from Austria, Belgium, Czecho- slovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, and Poland, like that prescribed in the preceding paragraph. (Ordinance of May 19, 1926, as amended, p. 8.) Importation Unrestricted *'V;NE, DRIED GRAPES, GRAPE SEEDS, CUT FLOV.'ERS, VEGETABLES WITHOUT ROOTS, SEEDS, FRUITS OF ALL KINDS (except American and Australian fruits): May be imported into Switzerland from any source, without restriction. (Art. 60, regulations of July 10, 1894, p. 4.) * CACTI AND ORCHIDS : Importation permitted under a general authorization, consequently a special permit is not required. (Letter of Div. of Agr . June 13 s 1936.) PHYLLOXERA RESTRICTIONS (Articles 57 to 63 of the Regulations of July 10, 1894, promulgated under the Federal Law of Dec. 22, 1893, as amended.) Importation Prohibited Article 57. The importation into Switzerland of stocks, shoots, stems, leaves, refuse of grapevines, unpressed vintage" grapes, used props and supports, composts, and vegetable molds, is prohibited. Arrangements that may "be ma.de in conformity with article 4 L> of the International Phylloxera Convention concerning the importation of vintage grapes, grape marc, vegetable molds, and used props and supports are reserved. Furthermore, the Federal Division of Agriculture may, exception- ally, grant authorizations derogating in part the prohibition mentioned in the first paragraph of the present article, when it is shown that such action will result in no risk. Products from Noiiadhering Countries Restricted Art. 58. Table and vintage grapes, grape marc, fruit trees, stocks, and shrubs proceeding from countries that do not adhere to the International Phylloxera Convention may be imported only with the permission of the Division of Agriculture of the Swiss Department of Public Economy .2/ l_l Article 4 of the International phylloxera Convention of Nov. 3, 1881 reads: "Contiguous States will arrange for the admittance into the frontier zones of wine grapes, grape marc, composts, vegetable molds, and previously used props and supports on condition that those articles do not proceed from a -phylloxera infested district." 2/ Since the Government of the United States does not adhere to the International Phylloxera Convention, article 58 is applicable to the plants and products mentioned therein which originate in that country. ?£& -4- G-rapes Must 3e Free from Leaves and Stems Art. 59. Table grapes may be admitted at the Swiss Frontier only when they include no grapevine leaves or steins and are packed in well- closed boxes, cases, or baskets, which nevertheless are easy to inspect. The weight of a full case, box, or basket shall not exceed 10 kg. Customs offices are authorized, exceptionally, to allow an addi- tional weight of 2 kg.iL/ Vintage grapes may be imported only compressed in well-closed casks (barrels) of at least 5 hectoliters capacity, or in sealed tank- cars; the latter must be so cleaned that they carry no earth or fragments of grapevines. Exceptions to these provisions may not be permitted unless the cantonal authority consents and engages to have the compressing supervised. 3-rape marc may be imported only in well-closed cases or casks. Importation Unrestricted Art. 60. .Wine, dried grapes, grape seeds, cut flowers, kitchen- garden products^/ (vegetables, truck crops), seeds, and fruits, may be imported into Switzerland without restriction. (See the Order of Apr. 20, 1928, concerning fruits f rom ' the United States.) 3/ A general authorization of Aug. 16, 1925, permits the imoortation of table grapes packed in boxes, cases, or baskets exceeding 10 kg from countries adhering to the International phylloxera Convention, valid for all Swiss cantons except Valais, into which table grapes may not be imported. 4/ Rooted vegetables, such as edible bulbs, salads, etc., from countries that do not adhere to the International Phylloxera Convention may be imported into Switzerland only when accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin. In the absence of such a certificate the products may be imoorted only under a special authorization of the Swiss Division of Agriculture. Authorized Customs Ports of Entry Art. 61. Stocks, shrubs , fruit trees, and all plants except grapevines, proceeding from nurseries, gardens, or greenhouses, may b e imp o r t e d on ly thro ugh d e s i gn a t e d po r t s . Shipper f s Declaration and Phylloxera Certificate Required Art. 62. 'These products shall be securely packed, but in such a way as to permit the necessary verifications, and they must be accom- panied by a shippers declaration and an attestation of the authority of the locality of origin. The attestation of the authority is unnecessary for shipments of plants from establishments borne on the lists published in conformity with article 9 (6) of the International Phylloxera Convention, fl/ The shipper's declaration shall: 1. Certify that the contents of the shipment proceed entirely from his establishment; 2. Indicate the exact receiving point and the address of the consignee^ 3. Affirm that there are no grapevine stocks in the shipment; 4. State whether or not the shipment includes plants with bal ; .s of earth; 5. Bear the shipper's signature. The attestation of the authority at the place of origin shall be based upon the declaration of an expert and certify: (a) That the articles proceed from ground separated from any grape stock by a space of at least 20 meters, or by some other obstacle to the roots deemed sufficient by the competent authority; (b) That the ground itself does not contain any grape stocks; (c_) That no storage of that plant is made there; (d) That if there had been phylloxerated grapevines in that ground, thorough extirpation, repeated toxic applications, and investigations during a period of 3 years had been carried on which insured the comolrte destruction of that insect and of the* roots. 5/ Art. IX. The contracting States, in order to facilitate community of action, engage to transmit regularly, with authorization to make use of them, publications which they make and exchange: (6) Lists, prepared and kept up to date, of horticultural or botanical establishments, schools, and gardens, which are subject to regular inspection, at suitable times, and officially declared to be in due form with the exigencies of the present convention. ■6- Art. 63. The Federal Department of Public Economy is authorized: 1. To permit exceptions to articles 59, 61, and 62, where small plants other than grapevines, flowering plants in pots, table grapes without leaves or stens, arriving with a traveler as hand baggage or registered baggage, are concerned; 2. To prohibit the importation of table grapes intended for viticultural regions of Switzerland, but not to prohibit their transit; 3. To take restrictive measures concerning the importation of kitchen- gar den products grown between rows of phylloxerated grapevines. FRESH FRUITS FROM UNITED STATES AMD AUSTRALIA (Order of Apr. 20, 1928) Inspection for San Jose Scale Article 1. Every shipment of fresh fruit proceeding from America (United States) or Australia, intended for importation into Switzerland, shall be subjected to an inspection at the frontier, by an expert, for the presence of San Jose scale ( Asoidiotus perniciosus Corns t.) or other injurious insects. Entry can be authorized only when the merchandise is found free from any parasite. Shipments found to be infested will be destroyed on the spot in the most appropriate manner. Authorized Fort of Entry Art. 2. The customs offices at Basle, Neuchatel, Geneva, Lausanne, and Zurich are open for the entry of the fruits concerned. The Federal Department of Public Economy is authorized to oren other offices for such importation. Arts. 3 and 4 relate to the inspection of imported fruits. RESTRICTIONS ON THE IMPORTATION OF POTATOES (Order of Oct. 5, 1925, as amended) Certificate of Wart-free Origin Required Article 1. Shipments of potatoes capable of introducing potato wart into Switzerland are not admitted to entry through the customs unless they are accompanied "by an official certificate of origin. In default of any other specially designated authority, the certificate shall "be issued "by the communal authority of the place of origin; it must "be verified by an official phytopatho logical establishment Qj and contain the following data: (a) Name and address of shipper; (b) Locality of the field, name, and address of growers; (c_) Exact designation of the merchandise, especially as to the kind or variety, car numbers, package, etc., in such a manner as to enable identification; (d) Declaration that up to the time of shipment potato wart has not appeared in the ground where the potatoes were grown nor within a radius of at least 5 km thereof; (e_) Place of destination and address of consignee; (f) Place and date of issuance of the certificate; stamp or seal and signature of the authority who issued the certificate. Certificates of origin are valid not more than 20 days from the date of issue. The certificate of origin may be collective if it concerns shipments made up of several deliveries from different growers living in the same commune. Certificates of origin shall be taken up by the customs to be placed at the disposal of the Federal Department of Public Economy. The certificate of origin is not necessary for the through transit of shipments across Switzerland. Art. 2. Powers of the Department of Public Economy to restrict or prohibit the importation of potatoes. Art. 3. Disposal of shipments that fail to meet requirements. Art. 4. The Federal Department of Public Economy, in cases where there is no danger to potato cultures in Switzerland, will permit exceptions to the provisions of articles 1 to 3. Art. 5. Relates to fees for inspection, etc. Arts, 6 to 8. Domestic measures. 6./ The United States is not included in the list of countries from which this certificate is required. (See article 1 of the Ordinance of Kay 19, 1925, page 8.) UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA niiiiinii 3 1262 09241 8093 I Seed Potatoes Art. 9, The Department of Public Economy is authorized to promulgate special provisions on the importation of and commerce in seed 'ootatoes. (Ordinance of May 19, 1926, as amended-) Countries from which Certificate of Origin is Required Article 1. The certificate of origin prescribed by article 1 of the Order of October 5, 1925, concerning the combat against potato wart, will be required for shipments of potatoes from Belgium, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, G-ermany, Great Britain, Netherlands, and Poland.