Commentaries: Art. 20

The Federal Council may introduce threshold prices for individual products. The terms of Article 17 apply.
The threshold price corresponds to the target import price, comprising the price franco Swiss border and customs duties as well as charges with a similar effect.¹The Federal Council shall decide how the price franco Swiss border, untaxed, is calculated.²
The Federal Council may set the threshold price for a group of products. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER)³shall set a guideline import value for individual products.
The EAER shall decide to what extent the sum of the customs duty rate and price franco Swiss border, untaxed, may deviate from the threshold price before the customs duty rate has to be adjusted (band).⁴
The FOAG⁵shall set the customs duty rate for products with a threshold price in such a way that the import price lies within the band.
Insofar as the sale of similar domestic products does not come under threat, the EAER may set the customs duty rate lower than indicated in paragraph 5.
The customs duty rates may not entail any elements of protectionvis-à-vis industry.⁶

Amended by No III of the FA of 24 March 2000 on the Repeal of the Grain Act, in force since 1 July 2001 (AS 2001 1539;BBl 1999 9261). ↩
Second sentence amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 6095;BBl 2006 6337). ↩
Term in accordance with No I 28 of the O of 15 June 2012 (Reorganisation of Federal Departments), in force since 1 Jan. 2013 (AS 2012 3655). This amendment has been made throughout the text. ↩
Amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 6095;BBl 2006 6337). ↩
Term in accordance with No I of the FA of 22 March 2013, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 3463,3863;BBl 2012 2075). This amendment has been made throughout the text. ↩
Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 1 Jan. 2008 (AS 2007 6095;BBl 2006 6337). ↩

Art. 20