Parmelin plans wine import auctions to support Swiss growers

Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin plans to auction import quotas for wine, a move intended to make foreign wine more expensive and give Swiss growers an advantage. But wine merchant Philipp Schwander has called the proposal a “crazy idea,” SRF reported.

Wine consumption in Switzerland is declining, particularly among young people, while vineyard areas and production have remained stable, creating a surplus. The figures are from the Federal Statistical Office.

A previous proposal from Parmelin and the Federal Office of Agriculture would have required wine importers to buy and process Swiss grapes as a condition of importing. That plan was rejected during consultation. Schwander said it would have forced the Swiss wine trade to take on wines it could not sell.

Under the new proposal, importers would bid for customs quota allocations, with the highest bidders receiving them. Jean-Marc Chappuis, deputy director of the Federal Office of Agriculture, said the auction would raise the cost of importing wine and benefit Swiss producers.

Chappuis cautioned that the measure would not solve the industry’s underlying problem: changing consumer habits. Schwander said support should instead help the sector adapt, assist exports and promote Swiss wine abroad. He said Switzerland exports 1.4 percent of its wine, compared with 40 percent for Germany, 50 percent for Italy and 60 percent for Spain.

The import auction proposal is now set to go to consultation. Parmelin and the agriculture office are also considering ways to promote Swiss wine exports.