Bilaterals III: what changes for Swiss food exporters

Within the framework of Bilaterals III, food safety rules, controls and information flows would be aligned more closely between Switzerland and the EU. By reducing non-tariff barriers that can delay, complicate or add costs to market access, the package could help Swiss companies operate under clearer export conditions.

What changes legally

In practical terms, the Agricultural Agreement is split into two tracks. For food exporters, the core element is the new Food Safety Protocol. It expands the existing 1999 Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products and creates a common Swiss-EU food safety area.

Under the Food Safety Protocol, relevant EU food safety legislation may be incorporated into the Swiss legal system by decision of the Joint Committee, meaning with Switzerland’s explicit consent, and may then become directly applicable in Switzerland. The relevant Swiss legislation would be amended accordingly, in particular to avoid duplication. Clarifications in Swiss law would also be needed where EU law is not sufficiently specific for direct application.

The scope of the Food Safety Protocol is broad. It covers plant health, animal feed, seeds, live animals and animal products, including food of animal origin, and would also extend to non-animal foodstuffs and the authorization of plant protection products.

What stays unchanged

The agricultural part of the agreement — including tariff concessions, free trade in cheese, wine, spirits, organic products, conformity checks for fresh fruit and vegetables, and geographical indications — would continue to apply as before and would remain outside the dynamic adoption of EU law.

Switzerland and the EU also retain their autonomy in agricultural policy, while existing border protection, including customs duties and quotas, remains unchanged.

The agreement also preserves elements that are commercially important for Swiss producers. Existing exemptions remain, and additional safeguards were negotiated for sensitive areas such as animal welfare and genetically modified organisms. EU-authorized GMO foods would not automatically be authorized in Switzerland, and higher Swiss animal welfare standards can continue to apply. This helps protect the quality- and trust-based positioning on which many Swiss food exporters depend.

What this means operationally for exporters

For exporters, this means that compliance would not only concern the finished product at the border, but also upstream regulatory requirements such as veterinary and plant-health rules, residues and contaminants, labelling and, where relevant, materials intended to come into contact with food.

One of the clearest advantages is access to EU food safety infrastructure. Switzerland would participate more closely in relevant EU committees and expert networks, EFSA work and rapid alert systems such as RASFF. 

That matters operationally. In cases of contamination, fraud, mislabeling or unsafe ingredients, earlier access to EU warnings could help companies stop shipments, narrow recalls and respond more quickly. It also improves horizon scanning: Swiss authorities and, indirectly, Swiss companies could see regulatory and scientific developments earlier.

Plant protection products are another concrete area. Under the Food Safety Protocol, Switzerland would be integrated into the EU system for the authorization of plant protection products. It would be able to review risk assessments in full, contribute to evaluations and, in future, be able to authorize without delay at national level products from the EU’s Central zone that it has co-evaluated.

What remains uncertain or depends on implementation

The practical implications will depend on whether Bilaterals III enter into force and on how the new framework is implemented in practice.