SLOVENIA

Bilateral relations between Switzerland and Slovenia

Relations between Switzerland and Slovenia are excellent. In addition to close personal and cultural contact, the two countries are united by a series of bilateral agreements and a high quality of cooperation in multilateral organisations. Both alpine countries, Switzerland and Slovenia have much in common and a similar mentality.

Economic cooperation

Economic relations between the two countries are fundamentally good.Trade between Switzerland and Slovenia has shown a positive but at times unsteady trend since 2000. Swiss exports to Slovenia are mainly pharmaceutical and chemical products and machinery. Slovenia exports mainly aircraft, vehicles, metals and machinery to Switzerland.
Switzerland ranks second after Austria as an investor in Slovenia. About 40 Swiss companies currently have offices in Slovenia (2015).

Business language

German, English, Slovene, Italian.

Dimensions and weights

Metric system.

Currency

National currency: €

ISO code: EUR

Customs tariff

Harmonised system, customs clearance based on the transaction value.

Import control

EU goods are freely available. Properly signed invoices (three copies) with all standard information and an indication of the country of origin are necessary for the customs clearance of non-EU goods. A plant health certificate is needed to import plants, products of plant origin, plant protection products, seeds, fruits, soils and fertilisers.

Instructions for use, a guarantee declaration and a list of customer services in Slovene must be included with consumer goods. Special regulations apply to the import of passenger cars. Drugs and chemicals are subject to registration. Capital exports and imports from third states over a value of EUR 12.500 must be declared

Standard VAT rate: 22% (reduced rate: 9,5%). Reimbursement of VAT paid is possible.

Terms of payment and tenders

Irrevocable letter of credit, alternatively payment in advance or partial payment in advance, bank guarantee or export credit insurance.

Creditworthiness and payment behaviour should be checked in advance. EUR/USD invoices are standard. Tenders in German or English.

Designations of origin

All goods and packaging must be labelled with the country of origin.

Packaging

Many goods are subject to obligations for labelling in Slovene. Special provisions apply for wines, foods, tobacco and live animals. The EU Directive sets out that packaging materials made of wood must be manufactured from round logs. This EU regulation goes beyond the necessary treatment set out in the ISPM 15 standard.

Product samples

Duty free where there is no retail value.