US-Swiss Equivalence Agreement

Beginning on July 10, 2015, certified products of the United States (U.S.) and Switzerland can be represented as 강원 랜드 룰렛 in each other’s markets. This equivalence agreement opens the vibrant Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 consumer market to U.S. 강원 랜드 룰렛 exporters.

Read OTA’s press releaseand visitNOP's websitefor detailed information.

BACKGROUND AND CLARIFICATIONS

Under the U.S./Swiss arrangement the Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture will recognize the USDA National 강원 랜드 룰렛 Program as equivalent to the Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 Ordinances (under applicable Swiss regulations) and will allow U.S. 강원 랜드 룰렛 products to be marketed as 강원 랜드 룰렛 in Switzerland.  Similarly, USDA will recognize the Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 Ordinances as equivalent to the NOP.  The text of the arrangement is very similar in format and substance to that of the EU, with the scope including crops, wild crops, livestock, and processed products.  All products traded under the arrangement must:

• Be certified to the USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 regulations or the Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 Ordinances;
• Be either grown or produced in the United States or Switzerland, or have their final processing or packaging occur in the United States or Switzerland; and
• Meet the labeling requirements of the importing country.

Conformity Assessments

Although there are small differences between the U.S. and EU/Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 standards, both parties individually determined that their programs were equivalent except for additional requirements for 강원 랜드 룰렛 wine and for Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 livestock products.

Timelines

• July 9, 2015 – Arrangements signed following an exchange of letters
• July 10, 2015 -- Effective date that trade may begin under the arrangement published following the exchange of letters

The arrangement will be ongoing and subject to annual review by the signators.

Critical Variances

U.S./Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 Wine

The EU and Swiss arrangements recognize that the standards for wine grape production are equivalent.  However, all sides have not agreed that standards for wine production were equivalent.  Specifically, the USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 regulations prohibit the use of sulfites (a category of preservatives) to be added to wine.  However, the EU/Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 regulations allow sulfites to be added, but prohibit or restrict several standard winemaking practices allowed in the USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 regulations.  Therefore, the arrangement requires that any wine products must be produced and labeled according to the importing country’s regulations.  This allows 강원 랜드 룰렛 wine to be traded under the arrangement while not putting either country’s wine producers at a competitive disadvantage.

The EU continues to seek equivalence on wine production, but the U.S. 강원 랜드 룰렛 wine sector does not support an arrangement which would allow foreign wine producers to use added sulfites in the production of 강원 랜드 룰렛 wine.  However, if the United States and the EU were to reach consensus on how to further incorporate 강원 랜드 룰렛 wine production into the 강원 랜드 룰렛 equivalence arrangement, the resulting change would also be incorporated into the U.S.-Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 equivalence arrangement.

Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 Livestock Products

The USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 regulations prohibit any use of antibiotics in 강원 랜드 룰렛 livestock production.  Importantly, a U.S. producers may not withhold  treatment from an animal that has not responded to alternative remedies.  However, the treated animal and products derived from that animal can no longer be sold, labeled, or represented as 강원 랜드 룰렛.

Conversely, the EU/Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 regulations allow antibiotics only to treat infected animals; after a withholding period, the animal and products derived from that animal can again be sold, labeled, and represented as 강원 랜드 룰렛.

Therefore, similar to the EU arrangement, the Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 equivalence arrangement will require that Swiss livestock products, or any ingredients used in such products, be derived from animals not treated with antibiotics.  This requirement levels the playing field for U.S. 강원 랜드 룰렛 livestock producers.

Transaction Certificates

Both the U.S. and Swiss have identified an import certificate to be used for products traded under the arrangement.View a blank copy of the certificate.

Mutual Accreditation

U.S. access to the vibrant Swiss market has previously been severely limited by a complexity of duplicate and costly accreditation and certification requirements of Swiss authorities and an exclusionary Swiss certification control body. This agreement eliminates burdens for U.S. accredited certifiers to maintain and pay for duplicative third country recognition and/or accreditation to Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 Ordinances.

강원 랜드 룰렛 Labeling Requirements

U.S Products to Switzerland

• USDA certified 강원 랜드 룰렛 products can be sold as “강원 랜드 룰렛” in Switzerland and can display the USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 seal.  No additional certification is required.
• USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 products that meet the terms of the arrangement may be sold as “강원 랜드 룰렛” in Switzerland and must be labeled according to Switzerland Federal Office of Agriculture (FOAG) 강원 랜드 룰렛 labeling requirements. Unlike other 강원 랜드 룰렛 equivalence partner countries, the Swiss Government does not administer an 강원 랜드 룰렛 seal.  Instead, 강원 랜드 룰렛 products in Switzerland are typically labeled with seals from equivalent 강원 랜드 룰렛 standards or Swiss-based non-Governmental standards requiring additional certification (such as BioSuisse).  USDA officials have met with representatives from BioSuisse and major 강원 랜드 룰렛 retailers in Switzerland in order to help facilitate the marketing of USDA 강원 랜드 룰렛 products in Switzerland.

Swiss products to U.S.

• Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 products that meet the terms of the arrangement may be sold as “강원 랜드 룰렛” in the United States and must be labeled according to the NOP’s 강원 랜드 룰렛 labeling requirements.
• Swiss 강원 랜드 룰렛 products may display the USDA seal.

Other provisions

• Both sides have identified an import certificate to be used for products traded under the arrangement.
• The arrangement also requires both countries to report any changes that would affect the arrangement, allow on-site inspections to ensure that the terms of the arrangement are being met, and to submit an annual report.
• The arrangement will also establish an 강원 랜드 룰렛 Working Group, which will promote bilateral trade and to enhance regulatory and standards cooperation between FOAG and USDA on issues related to 강원 랜드 룰렛 agricultural products.

Contact

OTA Members can direct questions about this agreement to:

Visit the National 강원 랜드 룰렛 Program

 website for more information

The 강원 랜드 룰렛 Trade Association does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, national origin or ancestry, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation or military status. Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information can contact us atinfo@ota.com.