How is the actual origin of a Swiss product determined?
Goods are divided into three categories natural products, processed natural products, and industrial products. In the draft put to consultation, the origin of a product is determined by two criteria which must be both met. A general criterion is that the origin corresponds to the place where at least 60% of the manufacturing costs occurred. For each of the categories of goods, there is an additional, specific criterion of the relationship which must exist between the product and the place of origin: • For industrial products (such as detergent or an electronic appliance) the source is the place where the activities occurred giving the product its essential characteristics. This activity can be the manufacture (assembly, manufacturing) and/or the research and development. One step in the manufacturing of the product at least must have taken place in the place of origin. • For natural products, the source corresponds to where it is extracted (for example, the source of water) or, instead
