A first step towards digital customs clearance
On 18 August 2023, the Swiss Federal Office of Customs and Border Security (FCOCBS) and the Austrian Customs Office agreed to introduce joint digital-based basic customs procedures for both sides of the border.
The measures necessary for the implementation of the new system are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. The main objective is that in future truck drivers will no longer have to stop at the border to complete customs formalities.
The digitisation steps agreed bilaterally between Switzerland and its neighbours are intended to lead to a Europe-wide solution in the medium term.
In Switzerland, the new "Passar" goods movement system introduced on 1 June 2023 is a key element in the simplification and digitisation of customs clearance. The direct international transit of goods (foreign countries > Switzerland > foreign countries) is already fully processed via Passar. The remaining processes will be converted to Passar by mid-2025. (mk)