Swiss Review 6/2018

Swiss Review / November 2018 / No.6 27 New: Customs clearance via smartphone With QuickZoll, the Federal Customs Administration (FCA) is taking an important step towards digitisation. The smartphone app, which was launched in spring 2018, is aimed at private individuals entering Switzerland with goods intended for private use or as gifts. Previously, travellers were required to declare their purchases abroad, holiday souvenirs or gifts for customs clearance verbally or in paper form (declaration box) when crossing the border into Switzerland. This was particularly inconvenient for those arriving by train if they did not intend to disembark at the border. Now goods can be cleared digitally, irrespective of the location and up to 48 hours before crossing the border and duties can subsequently be paid directly. Domicile plays an important role in customs clearance. For Swiss Abroad, QuickZoll is relevant if they bring gifts for family and friends or import food, tobacco and alcohol for their own final consumption in excess of the permitted allowances (e.g. 1 litre of spirits per adult). On the other hand, personal effects, such as one’s own skiing equipment, are tax-exempt. QuickZoll simplifies the importation into Switzerland. However, the digital processing of export certificates is not (yet) possible. VAT refunds also remain the responsibility of the country from which the goods are exported. The smartphone app QuickZoll is one of the first results of the DaziT transfor- mation programme, which will systematically simplify and digitise FCA services for private individuals and companies by the end of 2026. More information: www.quickzoll.admin.ch Consular services anywhere, conveniently on your mobile devices Kenya (2018) www.fdfa.admin.ch © Babu Indergand The original interview was published on swissinfo.ch, the online service of the Swiss Broadcasting Company, which is available in ten languages. Do you live abroad too? Then tag your Instagram photos #WeAreSwissAbroad. Aroma of spices woos Swiss lawyer out of his office When backpacking, lawyer Raphael Flury fell in love with East Africa and its natural products. The 28-year-old Swiss Abroad is now man- aging a certified organic spice production company on the Tanza- nian spice island of Zanzibar. My Job: I followed my desire to take an unconventional step to- wards an interesting but business-related life. It’s very fulfilling to work with natural products such as cinnamon, vanilla and cloves as well as learn from the small farmers how these products are pro- duced and processed. My Tanzania: The country is enormous and has many different cli- matic zones, which makes the living space and outdoor activities so attractive. My Sunday trips to the pristine beaches of the island seem almost surreal in comparison with the turbulences of everyday life. My Switzerland: Our place of birth is one of the few crucial things in life we have no influence over. Therefore, we should be grateful to have grown up in such a stable, safe, peaceful and well-organ- ised country like Switzerland. Once you live abroad though, you get to know many other ways of living that could actually help some Swiss be more content. My heart: As a matter of conviction, I used to cast my ballot in every single election or popular vote, something I no longer quite manage to do since I have moved here. This is why I deeply regret that a few years ago, e-voting was suspended due to a security gap in my home canton. THE SWISS ABROAD ON INSTAGRAM Responsible for the FDFA official communications: Simone Flubacher, Relations with the Swiss Abroad Effingerstrasse 27, 3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. +41 800 24 7 365 or +41 58 465 33 33 www.eda.admin.ch, email: helpline@eda.admin.ch