Genevans will bash you because you must buy food and meat in Geneva to protect our market.
More seriously you'll be fined if you import more than authorized (and if you are caught, of course)
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=en
Genevans will bash you because you must buy food and meat in Geneva to protect our market.
More seriously you'll be fined if you import more than authorized (and if you are caught, of course)
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=en
its 1kg of meat per adult in the car.
If you are over , say 1 kg too much or more, they will confiscate the meat and fine you < chf 40 per kilo, your number plates will be registered and you'll be regularaly stopped.
For the benefit of doubt, the border guards have the right to stop you anywhere within 10km of the border, and they do partol the back roads and do roadblocks, especially around the back ways between Geneva and Vaud.
getting stopped at a manned border depends on how guilty you look.
Best advice... if youre having a big bbq party and need a ton of meat...do a few trips with some friends in the car
its 1kg of meat per adult in the car.
If you are over , say 1 kg too much or more, they will confiscate the meat and fine you < chf 40 per kilo, your number plates will be registered and you'll be regularaly stopped.
For the benefit of doubt, the border guards have the right to stop you anywhere within 10km of the border, and they do partol the back roads and do roadblocks, especially around the back ways between Geneva and Vaud.
getting stopped at a manned border depends on how guilty you look.
Best advice... if youre having a big bbq party and need a ton of meat...do a few trips with some friends in the car
First time I have seen in over a year, a temporary border control was setup near us in La Plaine, the boys are on the prowl! I slipped by with my 'nothing to declare' badge, but it didn't stop me feeling incredibly guilty from the death stares!!
Be careful!
First time I have seen in over a year, a temporary border control was setup near us in La Plaine, the boys are on the prowl! I slipped by with my 'nothing to declare' badge, but it didn't stop me feeling incredibly guilty from the death stares!!
Be careful!
its 1kg of meat per adult in the car.
If you are over , say 1 kg too much or more, they will confiscate the meat and fine you < chf 40 per kilo, your number plates will be registered and you'll be regularaly stopped.
For the benefit of doubt, the border guards have the right to stop you anywhere within 10km of the border, and they do partol the back roads and do roadblocks, especially around the back ways between Geneva and Vaud.
getting stopped at a manned border depends on how guilty you look.
Best advice... if youre having a big bbq party and need a ton of meat...do a few trips with some friends in the car
Charlie
Has it changed? It used to be 500 grammes per adult. Admit last time I checked was about 5 years ago
Offal eg sausages, liver, kidney etc are not included
Charlie
Has it changed? It used to be 500 grammes per adult. Admit last time I checked was about 5 years ago
Offal eg sausages, liver, kidney etc are not included
At Moillesulaz there is a box for depositing your TVA form. I think EU rules allow for the form not to be stamped if below a certain amount. £This is also the case at many English airports
At Moillesulaz there is a box for depositing your TVA form. I think EU rules allow for the form not to be stamped if below a certain amount. £This is also the case at many English airports
its 1kg of meat per adult in the car.
If you are over , say 1 kg too much or more, they will confiscate the meat and fine you < chf 40 per kilo, your number plates will be registered and you'll be regularaly stopped.
For the benefit of doubt, the border guards have the right to stop you anywhere within 10km of the border, and they do partol the back roads and do roadblocks, especially around the back ways between Geneva and Vaud.
getting stopped at a manned border depends on how guilty you look.
Best advice... if youre having a big bbq party and need a ton of meat...do a few trips with some friends in the car
Also the limit be it 1 kg or 500 kgs is per person per day.
Very difficult to control this but you should be aware
Also the limit be it 1 kg or 500 kgs is per person per day.
Very difficult to control this but you should be aware
I have been stopped but never checked. Don`t place anything visible and say "nothing to declare", is it that I`m Dutch or you are all Saints here?
I have been stopped but never checked. Don`t place anything visible and say "nothing to declare", is it that I`m Dutch or you are all Saints here?
Doublecheck before you go wild. Do not take my postings as gospel
I was told this at Geneva airport customs when I was stopped but that was only one incident.
The argument to use is that the meat content is minimal. If you crossing at Ferney or CERN and the Swiss post happens to be open, ask for the leaflet but do not return through the same crossing if you are over the limit.
If you really are not one of Thomas NL's saints you could ask for a separate receipt for everything which is over the limit and only show the legitimate one. But if the second is found.......!!!
Doublecheck before you go wild. Do not take my postings as gospel
I was told this at Geneva airport customs when I was stopped but that was only one incident.
The argument to use is that the meat content is minimal. If you crossing at Ferney or CERN and the Swiss post happens to be open, ask for the leaflet but do not return through the same crossing if you are over the limit.
If you really are not one of Thomas NL's saints you could ask for a separate receipt for everything which is over the limit and only show the legitimate one. But if the second is found.......!!!
If I have understood the link attached correctly (have read very quickly) It is 0.5 kg for meat and 3.5 kg for sausages. Maybe someone has more time to digest it and comment whether this is the correct link or not
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=fr
and below the English version
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=en
If I have understood the link attached correctly (have read very quickly) It is 0.5 kg for meat and 3.5 kg for sausages. Maybe someone has more time to digest it and comment whether this is the correct link or not
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=fr
and below the English version
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=en
Paul 500g youre right...my bad...(for smuggling these last 7 yrs)
Also butter is on the list of restricted imports...
sausages from UK dont count as meat here, due to the non being 100% meat. so no limit
Paul 500g youre right...my bad...(for smuggling these last 7 yrs)
Also butter is on the list of restricted imports...
sausages from UK dont count as meat here, due to the non being 100% meat. so no limit
Well you have choice
No limit according to Charlie (and I tend to agree) or 3.5 kg if you are a wimp.
Either you you can look forward to a pretty good bfreakfast
Well you have choice
No limit according to Charlie (and I tend to agree) or 3.5 kg if you are a wimp.
Either you you can look forward to a pretty good bfreakfast
Tea B - you realise there is a Jims in Gland now ? No need to go over any borders...
Tea B - you realise there is a Jims in Gland now ? No need to go over any borders...
Jesus how many kilos of sausages are you buying?
Mad Cow disease?
its 1kg of meat per adult in the car.
If you are over , say 1 kg too much or more, they will confiscate the meat and fine you < chf 40 per kilo, your number plates will be registered and you'll be regularaly stopped.
For the benefit of doubt, the border guards have the right to stop you anywhere within 10km of the border, and they do partol the back roads and do roadblocks, especially around the back ways between Geneva and Vaud.
getting stopped at a manned border depends on how guilty you look.
Best advice... if youre having a big bbq party and need a ton of meat...do a few trips with some friends in the car
Thanks Charlie! I knew there was a limit on meat. 0.5kg of beef or pork and chicken 3.5kg. What surprised me when I wen to the link was the limits on the other basics. Milk 5 litres (I like to buy the 6 pack at 0.65 euros a litre), vegetables 20kg (potatoes, cabbage, and onions and your done), Juices, apple pear and grape 3 litres (Again, I like to buy a six pack of everything).
I have crossed the border with a boot full of stuff, maybe 15 to 20 times in the last year, and never thought of covering it or hiding it. Usually the bill is 150 to 250 euros. Even with two of us in the car we are over the limit for loads of things. I guess we have been lucky as we never saw any border guards.
Maybe we should make more frequent trips and buy less each time. So far I haven't seen a patrol either.
Has anyone had an actual experience of being caught over the limit.
By the way, if you are coming inot Geneva airport, the big give-away for the customs staff is to be carrying shopping bags from expensive brands. They routinely target those who look like they just went on a shopping holiday.
Thanks Charlie! I knew there was a limit on meat. 0.5kg of beef or pork and chicken 3.5kg. What surprised me when I wen to the link was the limits on the other basics. Milk 5 litres (I like to buy the 6 pack at 0.65 euros a litre), vegetables 20kg (potatoes, cabbage, and onions and your done), Juices, apple pear and grape 3 litres (Again, I like to buy a six pack of everything).
I have crossed the border with a boot full of stuff, maybe 15 to 20 times in the last year, and never thought of covering it or hiding it. Usually the bill is 150 to 250 euros. Even with two of us in the car we are over the limit for loads of things. I guess we have been lucky as we never saw any border guards.
Maybe we should make more frequent trips and buy less each time. So far I haven't seen a patrol either.
Has anyone had an actual experience of being caught over the limit.
By the way, if you are coming inot Geneva airport, the big give-away for the customs staff is to be carrying shopping bags from expensive brands. They routinely target those who look like they just went on a shopping holiday.
Thanks Charlie! I knew there was a limit on meat. 0.5kg of beef or pork and chicken 3.5kg. What surprised me when I wen to the link was the limits on the other basics. Milk 5 litres (I like to buy the 6 pack at 0.65 euros a litre), vegetables 20kg (potatoes, cabbage, and onions and your done), Juices, apple pear and grape 3 litres (Again, I like to buy a six pack of everything).
I have crossed the border with a boot full of stuff, maybe 15 to 20 times in the last year, and never thought of covering it or hiding it. Usually the bill is 150 to 250 euros. Even with two of us in the car we are over the limit for loads of things. I guess we have been lucky as we never saw any border guards.
Maybe we should make more frequent trips and buy less each time. So far I haven't seen a patrol either.
Has anyone had an actual experience of being caught over the limit.
By the way, if you are coming inot Geneva airport, the big give-away for the customs staff is to be carrying shopping bags from expensive brands. They routinely target those who look like they just went on a shopping holiday.
Marcus
The road blocks happen quite often on the back roads near Chavannes... they tend to target women in cars, since typical swiss attitutde that women do food shopping ha ha ha
Ive been stopped with more meat than I should have in my boot on a back road ...I was alone, in a sports car and when asked if I had anything to declare said "no"...they waved me on... the women in the 4x4 behind me were pulled over and searched...
the only things the guards get anal about is meat and butter... juice and veg etc they dont care about IMHO....
the smaller borders are becoming less and less manned... and an option is to go shopping out of peak times....
I know people who were stopped... the meat taken and a fine imposed... they ignored the alcohol and all other stuff...
Marcus
The road blocks happen quite often on the back roads near Chavannes... they tend to target women in cars, since typical swiss attitutde that women do food shopping ha ha ha
Ive been stopped with more meat than I should have in my boot on a back road ...I was alone, in a sports car and when asked if I had anything to declare said "no"...they waved me on... the women in the 4x4 behind me were pulled over and searched...
the only things the guards get anal about is meat and butter... juice and veg etc they dont care about IMHO....
the smaller borders are becoming less and less manned... and an option is to go shopping out of peak times....
I know people who were stopped... the meat taken and a fine imposed... they ignored the alcohol and all other stuff...
"...guards get anal about meat and butter..."
Is it any wonder? 
I think you are all missing one important point, which you will get if you read the rules carefully:
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=en
It is NOT forbidden to buy and bring across the border quantities in excess of those stipulated. If you exceed the limits, you will have to pay duty tax for it. That is all. So all you have to do, if stopped and asked if you have anything to declare, is not be cute and lie, but be honest and declare the goods you have with you, the amounts on which you believe you are in excess, pay the duty tax, and be on your way. Granted, that is harder to do when you are stopped crossing the border on some of the smallest backroads with your boot loaded with three dead cows, acting guilty as hell.
When you get fined is when you lie to try and avoid paying the tax.
The tax is highest for meat and butter, and I don't think it is to protect your heart, but the swiss cattle and animal husbandry industry.
My God! Are any of you so poor you really need to go through these sheenanigans?
Just move to France, then.... It is much nicer, anyway.
I think you are all missing one important point, which you will get if you read the rules carefully:
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/essen_trinken/00356/index.html?lang=en
It is NOT forbidden to buy and bring across the border quantities in excess of those stipulated. If you exceed the limits, you will have to pay duty tax for it. That is all. So all you have to do, if stopped and asked if you have anything to declare, is not be cute and lie, but be honest and declare the goods you have with you, the amounts on which you believe you are in excess, pay the duty tax, and be on your way. Granted, that is harder to do when you are stopped crossing the border on some of the smallest backroads with your boot loaded with three dead cows, acting guilty as hell.
When you get fined is when you lie to try and avoid paying the tax.
The tax is highest for meat and butter, and I don't think it is to protect your heart, but the swiss cattle and animal husbandry industry.
My God! Are any of you so poor you really need to go through these sheenanigans?
Just move to France, then.... It is much nicer, anyway.
