# Swiss Tariff Schedule: TARES Continuously Updated – Major Overhaul Coming in 2028 **Category:** Customs | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-08-10 | **Updated:** 2026-08-11 **Tags:** Tares, Schweiz, Schweizer Zolltarif, HS 2028, Zolltarifnummer, Warennummer, BAZG, WZO, Zollanmeldung, Passar, Tarifierung, Zollsoftware, Stammdaten, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Zoll, E-Commerce > Switzerland's customs tariff TARES was adjusted again as of August 1, 2026. However, for freight forwarders and importers, the outlook for 2028 is more significant: that is when the international HS system will be fundamentally revised. --- Anyone in Switzerland who prepares customs declarations works with TARES on a daily basis. Simply put, TARES is the electronic "price list and operating manual" of Swiss Customs. There you will find not only the tariff number of a product, but also customs duties, value-added tax, additional levies, licensing requirements, and other regulations. As of **August 1, 2026**, the Federal Customs Administration (BAZG) has updated the tariff once again. Among other things, customs duties in the agricultural sector have been adjusted. Additionally, the salt monopoly is now depicted as a licensing requirement. For imports of certain beef products from countries where hormonal growth promoters are not banned, there is also a change: an importer's so-called use obligation must now be explicitly stated in the customs declaration. For normal freight forwarding operations, however, it is almost more important to note **how frequently such adjustments now occur**. In 2026, TARES has been updated every month so far. A tariff number from your own customer base may still be correct, while the associated permits, additional levies, or notes behind it may have changed. **2028 will be significantly more important** The monthly changes are, however, small work compared to what is coming on **January 1, 2028**. That is when the next edition of the **Harmonized System, or HS**, comes into force worldwide. Simply put, the HS is the international basic framework of customs tariff numbers. The first six digits of a Swiss eight-digit tariff number are based on it. Therefore, a change in the HS ultimately also affects the Swiss customs tariff. The revision is extensive: The WCO speaks of **299 amendment packages**. Six new headings and 428 new subheadings are created, while five headings and 172 subheadings are deleted. In total, HS 2028 will then comprise 1,229 headings and 5,852 subheadings. This is not simply about renaming some numbers. Entire product categories are being restructured. An example is **vaccines**. Human vaccines will in future receive their own heading 30.07, other vaccines heading 30.08. Currently, these goods are still classified in other structures under heading 30.02. Another example is **dietary supplements**. A new heading 21.07 is being created for this category. Particularly here, the distinction between food, food preparations, and pharmaceutical products has sometimes been difficult. The nomenclature for **plastic waste and various single-use plastic products** is also being restructured. For plastic waste, among other things, it should become clearer which goods fall under the rules of the Basel Convention on transboundary waste transport. Other changes affect medical emergency equipment such as ventilators, protective materials, or certain diagnostic devices. The aim is to make such goods more clearly identifiable in international trade. **What does HS 2028 mean for Switzerland?** There is already a concrete timeline for this. The BAZG confirms that Switzerland will **adopt the new HS rules into the Swiss customs tariff on January 1, 2028**. The corresponding Federal Council Ordinance is expected to be published in **summer 2027**. This means: The final Swiss eight-digit tariff numbers are not yet known today for all goods. This is because the WCO sets the first six digits internationally, and Switzerland must then build its own national customs tariff from these. Preliminary work is still possible. The WCO has published so-called **correlation tables**. These show which current HS-2022 numbers are likely to correspond to which new HS-2028 numbers. Important: These tables are a work aid and not a legally binding tarification decision. --- For a customs declarant, HS 2028 does not initially mean that something must change tomorrow. However, companies that regularly use many tariff numbers should not put this matter on the back burner until December 2027. Master data is particularly important. Many shippers permanently store tariff numbers in their ERP systems, article master files, invoices, or export software. Freight forwarders then automatically transfer these numbers into the customs declaration. If an old number no longer exists in 2028 or only applies to part of the previously covered goods, what was previously clean automation can quickly become an incorrect customs declaration. Customs software and interfaces must also adopt the new Swiss tariff master data in time. Anyone clearing large customers with thousands of articles should therefore not simply replace all old tariff numbers with new ones automatically in 2027. For some items, a re-examination of what the goods actually are must be conducted. This also applies to shippers: the tariff number is part of the article master file and should not be regarded solely as a task for the customs agent. Changes can also have implications for permits, rules of origin, or other trade law requirements. A sensible workflow would therefore be: monitor in 2026 and early 2027 which of your own product categories are affected. After the Swiss implementation is published in summer 2027, verify the concrete eight-digit numbers. Thereafter, adapt article master files, interfaces, and customs software in good time before the year-end changeover. --- Facts, Lists, Evidence The current TARES update has been in effect since August 1, 2026. Among other changes, agricultural tariff rates as well as regulations on salt monopoly and certain beef imports were adjusted. For certain beef from countries without a ban on hormonal growth promoters, the mandatory declaration requirement has been in effect since August 1 as a mandatory specification. In addition to tariff numbers, TARES contains duty rates, taxes, licensing requirements, and further import and export regulations. HS 2028 enters into force on January 1, 2028. The revision comprises 299 amendment packages. 428 new HS subheadings are created; 172 existing subheadings are deleted. New or substantially revised areas include vaccines, dietary supplements, medical emergency supplies, and plastic waste. Switzerland will integrate HS 2028 into the Swiss Customs Tariff on January 1, 2028. The Swiss Federal Council ordinance for implementation is expected to be published in summer 2027. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) ### Airports - [Zürich Airport (ZRH)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/zuerich-airport-zrh) - [Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/geneva-cointrin-international-airport-gva) - [EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/euroairport-basel-mulhouse-freiburg-airport-bsl) ### Glossary - [Import](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import-2) - [Importer](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/importer-2) - [Freight forwarder](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarder) - [Tariff number](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/tariff-number) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Customs duty](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-duty) - [Customs declaration](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-declaration-2) - [Customs tariff](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-tariff) - [Customs tariff numbers](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-tariff-numbers) - [Waste transports](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/waste-transports) - [Advisory](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/advisory) - [API Portal BAZG](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/api-portal-bazg) - [Swiss customs tariff](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/swiss-customs-tariff) - [sub-item](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sub-item) - [Tariff decision](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/tariff-decision) - [Passar 2.0 import](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/passar-2-0-import) - [Passar 3.0 Monitored Procedures](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/passar-3-0-monitored-procedures) - [authorization requirement](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/authorization-requirement) - [Passar](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/passar) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/schweizer-zolltarif-tares-wird-laufend-angepasst-2028-kommt-der-grosse-umbau-20260810175915](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/schweizer-zolltarif-tares-wird-laufend-angepasst-2028-kommt-der-grosse-umbau-20260810175915)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/schweizer-zolltarif-tares-wird-laufend-angepasst-2028-kommt-der-grosse-umbau-20260810175915](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/schweizer-zolltarif-tares-wird-laufend-angepasst-2028-kommt-der-grosse-umbau-20260810175915)*