Strengthening of Swiss made label

The Swiss made label for the watch industry will be strengthened by the introduction of a minimum rate of Swiss value of 60% and by the requirement that technical development must be carried out in Switzerland.

A decisive step has been taken in finalising the project and the Swiss made label will be very significantly strengthened as a result, in the interest of consumers and of Switzerland’s industrial fabric.

At its board meeting of 17 December 2014, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH outlined the principles governing revision of the Swiss made ordinance (ordinance regulating the use of the name “Swiss” for watches of 1971). At present, in order to be Swiss, a watch must satisfy the following three conditions: be equipped with a Swiss movement, and be assembled and inspected by the manufacturer in Switzerland. Two other criteria will be added to the above, namely the introduction of a minimum rate of Swiss value of 60% for the movement and the watch, and the obligation to carry out technical development in Switzerland.

Introduction of the rate of 60% is logical and necessary. The FH has lobbied intensely, in the context of the revision of the law on trademarks (Swissness bill), to ensure that industrial products should be subject to a minimum rate of 60% rather than 50% only. Parliament concurred with this view in June 2013 and it is now expected that the Swiss made ordinance will be adapted accordingly. The special rate of 80% for mechanical products was rejected. Following intense discussions, Federal Administration departments felt that it could run contrary to international agreements which are binding on Switzerland. The FH wishes to see the Swiss made label strengthened, but in compliance with existing agreements.

The stipulation that technical development must be carried out in Switzerland, in particular design work and prototyping, has been introduced to comply with the new requirement of the law on trademarks, whereby Swiss made must correspond to the place where the activity which gave the product its characteristics was carried out. Since watches are an adroit blend of the technical and aesthetic, it follows that design work and prototyping do indeed confer the characteristics of the Swiss product.

It should be remembered that the FH adopted a draft revision back in 2007, but had to wait for the conclusion of parliamentary proceedings devoted to the Swissness bill, in June 2013, before formally commencing a revision of the Swiss made ordinance. It is expected that all ordinances relating to the Swissness bill will be adopted by the Federal Council at the end of 2015 and that they will enter into force on 1st January 2017.


The future Swiss made label for the watch industry in brief:

  • Minimum 60% Swiss value for the movement
  • Assembly and final inspection of the movement carried out in Switzerland
  • Minimum 60% Swiss value for the watch, which must also incorporate a Swiss movement
  • Assembly and final inspection of the watch carried out in Switzerland
  • Technical development of the movement and watch carried out in Switzerland

December 18, 2014