EFTA member. Switzerland accesses the EU market via bilateral agreements (Bilaterals III signed March 2026). Compliance scores reflect this preferential access and are not directly comparable to non-aligned sourcing countries.
weighted score 1.1 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Switzerland
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Switzerland-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
1
No forced or child labour findings. Not listed on ILAB, US TIP, or any EU watchlist. ITUC rating 1-2.
Worker rights & FOA
1
ILO C087 and C098 ratified. Comprehensive collective bargaining. Freedom of association fully protected.
OHS & audit transparency
1
Swiss OHS standards among the highest globally. SECO inspectorate well-resourced. Full audit access and transparency.
Food & product safety
1
Swiss food safety legislation (Lebensmittelgesetz) substantially equivalent to EU standards. Very low RASFF alert rate for Swiss-origin products.
Environmental & regulatory
1
No EUDR-regulated commodities produced. No IUU card. Swiss ETS linked to EU ETS. Environmental regulation comprehensive.
Governance & anti-corruption
1
TI CPI 2025: 80. Very strong rule of law, institutional transparency, and anti-corruption enforcement. Banking secrecy reforms post-2014 have improved transparency.
Tariff & preferential access
2
Bilateral agreements provide preferential but not full single market access. Bilaterals III (March 2026) significantly expand coverage. MRA for industrial product conformity assessment.
Non-tariff barriers
1
MRA covers most industrial product categories. Swiss product standards largely aligned with EU. Minimal regulatory friction for compliant exporters.
Supply chain traceability
1
Highly transparent economy. Strong corporate governance. Pharma supply chains fully traceable. Swiss commodity trading hub subject to increasing transparency requirements.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Forced labour risk
- No forced labour findings. Switzerland is not listed on any ILAB, US TIP, or EU forced labour watchlists. Very low structural risk.
- Worker rights
- ILO C087 and C098 ratified. Strong collective bargaining framework. ITUC Global Rights Index rating: 1-2. Trade union density moderate (~15%) but sectoral agreements cover a wider share of the workforce.
- Working conditions
- Swiss Federal Act on Work in Industry, Trade and Commerce (ArG) sets comprehensive OHS standards. SECO labour inspectorate well-resourced. Working conditions among the highest globally.
- Migrant labour
- Free movement of workers with EU/EFTA via bilateral agreements. Third-country nationals subject to quota system. No systemic exploitation findings in formal sectors.
EU Regulatory Exposure
EU Regulatory Exposure
- EU market access
- Switzerland accesses the EU market via bilateral agreements. Bilaterals III signed March 2026 represent a major upgrade, expanding mutual recognition and institutional framework. Not an EEA member.
- Mutual recognition
- Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) covers conformity assessment for most industrial product categories. Updated under Bilaterals III. Swiss manufacturers can self-certify for EU market placement in covered sectors.
- EUDR exposure
- Minimal direct exposure. Switzerland has no significant production of EUDR-regulated commodities. However, Swiss trading houses (commodity trading hub) face EUDR obligations for goods they trade into the EU.
- CBAM exposure
- Swiss emissions trading system linked to EU ETS since 2020. CBAM implications for Swiss industrial exports are mitigated by carbon price equivalence.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Logistics & Supply Chain
- Primary export corridor
- Road and rail to EU markets (Germany, France, Italy). Basel Rhine port for waterway access to Rotterdam.
- Key exports to EU
- Pharmaceuticals (Roche, Novartis), precision instruments, watches, machinery, chemicals, medical devices
- Transit time
- Same-day to 2 days by road/rail to major EU markets
- Infrastructure
- World-class road and rail infrastructure. Gotthard Base Tunnel (57 km, opened 2016) is the world's longest rail tunnel, connecting Switzerland to Italy. Basel is a major Rhine inland port.