How does customs clearance work in Switzerland?

Swiss customs clearance is the process of declaring imported goods to the BAZG, calculating duties and VAT, and authorising entry into the Swiss market. Step by step: 1) Arrival at the border crossing; 2) Declaration via Passar system: Tares tariff code, value, weight, origin, Incoterm, consignee; 3) Channel assignment by risk analysis: green (immediate release), yellow (document check), red (physical inspection); 4) Duty and VAT payment via PCD/ZAZ deferred account or cash; 5) Release of goods. Timing: with green channel and complete documents, 15 minutes to 2 hours; with physical inspection, half a day. Swiss specifics: duties are weight-based (not value-based as in the EU); Passar is replacing e-dec; AEO status favouring green channel (>90%); PCD account avoids cash payments. Franzosini has in-house customs declarants at all Ticino crossings, ensuring fast clearance with very high green channel rates.