The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security is adjusting the administrative process for classification requests in accordance with the Alcohol Act. Starting January 2026, requests for the classification of alcoholic products can be submitted directly via email. The AZG remains responsible as the expert authority for the application of the Alcohol Act.
With the new process, the AZG clarifies that classification requests under the Alcohol Act (AlkG) exclusively concern the legal assessment of a product regarding alcohol law. Customs tariff information is explicitly not included in this process. For questions regarding tariff classification, the separate procedure for binding tariff information continues to apply.
Submissions will now be centralized through the official address einstufung@bazg.admin.ch. This will standardize access and processing. The aim is to reduce erroneous requests and shorten processing times.
The AZG is responding with this adjustment to recurring confusions between alcohol law and customs tariff law in day-to-day operations. In practice, such mixed requests regularly lead to delays, follow-up queries, and formal refusals. The clear separation of processes is intended to provide more legal certainty for companies, freight forwarders, and consultants.
This innovation applies to all alcoholic products, irrespective of whether they are imported, exported, or produced domestically. The process is particularly relevant for manufacturers, importers, and trading companies that bring new products to market or change existing formulations.
SOURCE REFERENCES
News Service Bund, admin.ch
Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, bazg.admin.ch
Alcohol Act AlkG, admin.ch
Federal Department of Finance, efd.admin.ch
FACTS, LISTS, EVIDENCE
• New process applies from January 2026
• Classification requests exclusively via email to einstufung@bazg.admin.ch
• The procedure only concerns the legal classification under AlkG
• Customs tariff information is explicitly excluded
• Customs tariff questions must be applied for separately
• The goal is to reduce erroneous requests and processing delays
FOR FREIGHT PORTAL USERS
The new process brings more clarity in dealing with alcoholic goods.
Shippers benefit from clear responsibilities and fewer rejections by authorities.
Freight forwarders can place requests more purposefully and avoid unnecessary delays in imports.
Individuals and smaller retailers receive clearer guidance on which authority is responsible for their questions.
An important side effect is the professionalization of communication with the authorities. The clean separation between legal product classification and customs tariff law will gain importance in the future, especially with complex or novel products.
