Plants an parts of plants (inc. fruits, vegetables and cut flowers)
Ban on placing certain invasive alien plants on the market from any country
The import of certain invasive alien plants from any country will be banned from 1 September 2024. The plants affected by the ban, including the butterfly bush, the cherry laurel, the Chusan palm and the foxglove tree, are listed in the Release Ordinance (RO, SR 814.911).
The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security monitors imports in coordination with the Federal Office for the Environment.
Further information can be found in the Federal Office for the Environment regulations. Unfortunately this content is not available in English. The following language versions are available: german french italian
Imports of certain invasive alien plants – including the butterfly bush, the cherry laurel, the Chusan palm and the foxglove tree – from any country are prohibited. Further information can be found in the Federal Office for the Environment regulations.
a) Importation from EU states 1
Plants (living or as plant parts), bulbs, garden soil and flower soil are not subject to phytosanitary measures, so long as these goods are imported in tourist traffic for personal use.
b) Importation from other states (third countries)
Plants and fresh (living) parts of plants (e.g. fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, cut foliage or seeds), goods made from certain types of wood and soil are subject to either import bans or inspection on importation, and must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.
Anyone wishing to import such plants or plant products must enquire at the Federal Office for Agriculture about the applicable regulations in good time before importing them.
Exceptions: The following fruits may be imported without a phytosanitary certificate:
bananas (Musa), coconuts (Cocos nucifera), dates (Phoenix dactilifera), durian (Durio zibethinus) and pineapples (Ananas comosus).
1 In phytosanitary terms, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and France's overseas territories are not considered EU states
Approximately 25,000 types of plant are covered by the Washington Species Protection Convention (CITES) and are globally protected.
The importation of plants of this nature or products thereof is either completely prohibited or is subject to authorisation (e.g. orchids, cacti, certain types of wood and medicinal plants; www.cites.ch).
Information and respective authorisations will be provided by the FSVO:
