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General
Free competition is a basic principle of Swedish Industry and Commerce.
Market forces determine price levels with certain exemptions, such
as housing and farming. Sweden has a reputation for being a tough
and demanding market. The Swedish buyer expects high quality, good
designs, good packaging and above all, reliable delivery.
Sweden is considered to be a rich country by international standards.
However, the Swedish consumer is very price conscious and well aware
of what he is prepared to pay for different goods and services.
Tariffs, Regulations and Import Procedures
As of 1st January 1995, Sweden has become a full member of the European
Union and belongs to the Member States Custom Union.
Virtually all import duties are levied on an advalorein basis. Nearly
all import as well as domestic products are subject to Value Added
Tax (VAT).
Tariff Structure
The Swedish customs tariff is based on a combination of the EEC customs
tariff, the EEC integrated customs tariff and some specific Swedish
regulations.
Import Levies, Duties and Licences
The European Customs Tariff has fully replaced the former Swedish
system.
Agriculture Products
Agricultural products are subject to import levies, usually on weight
basis. Many fruits, vegetables and horticultural products are subject
to seasonal duties, depending on the time of year.
As import levies change fairly often, the exporters are advised to
check them with the relevant Swedish authorities.
Most agricultural goods still require a licence.
Textiles
As of 1st January 1995, Sweden has applied EU rules i.e. Quotas and
import licences on imports of textiles have been re-introduced.
Lome’ Convention
This links 70 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to
the European Union. All their exports have free access to the European
markets.
Generalized System of Preferences
Sweden has adopted the European Union’s GSP system. The new
generalized system replaces the current quantitative restrictions
and is based on an adaptation of the preferential rights, where four
levels are applicable to the developing countries.
There is a 15% reduction in conventional duty, customs tariff on very
sensitive items (chemicals, plastics and electronics) and 65% in semi-sensitive
products (leather products, ceramics, wood and metal etc)
Customs Clearance of Imported Goods
Imports to Sweden should clear through Customs. Before dispatching
goods the exporter is required to check with the importer or the forwarding
agent, which documents are required for clearance.
Clearance
for Free Circulation
An importer who wishes to introduce the products to the market and
intend to do free circulating, is required to deliver a written declaration
on a prescribed form to the Swedish customs at the time of import.
Free Ports
There are free ports in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and Norrloping,
where storage is allowed for an unlimited period.
Temporary
Importation
In cases of passive processing (being imported to the third county
for processing) and active processing (imported to be processed in
EU), the duty is levied on the final processed goods.
Exemption from Customs Duties and Other Import Charges
Under certain conditions, exemption from customs duties other import
charges may
be granted for:
 Commercial
samples
Goods for exhibitions
or trade fairs
Professional
equipment such as tools and the like
Gifts
Certain educational
material
Forwarders
Goods arriving are often consigned directly to the forwarder firm
in Sweden. All cargo forwarding agents have their own warehouses for
temporary storage under customs supervision. They inform the importer
of the arrival of goods and can deal with unloading, customs clearance
or further distribution by suitable means of transport or temporary
storage.
Documentation
In order to avoid delays in custom clearance, documents should arrive
in Sweden prior to the cargo. The following documents are needed:
Sanitary certificate
(for goods that are suspected of bringing contagious animals or disease)
An invoice
(not a pro-forma invoice)
Certification
of origin
Bill of Lading
/ Airway Bill
The invoice should display the following information:
Name and Address
of the seller and the buyer
Date of invoice
Number of packages,
type of package, gross weight, price of each item
Discounts and
rebates if any and what kind
Condition of
payment and delivery
For agricultural products and foodstuffs veterinary certificates and
plant protection certifications are required. Bills of Lading should
contain the name of the importer, in order to enable the shipping
line to notify the arrival of goods to the importer.
ATA Carnet
This is an international document that can be used for the temporary
importation of:
Samples of
commercial value
Goods for fairs
and exhibitions
Professional
equipment
ATA Carnet allows temporary importation without completion of customs
forms or deposit for
custom duty and other charges.
Small Consignments as Postal Packages
Small consignments sent as postal packages are normally cheaper. The
post office administration clears the package through customs and
sends it to the nearest post office, where the importer can collect
the goods. The copy of the invoice and the GSP certificate of origin
and the package's dispatch note should be attached to the package.
Samples
Samples such as textiles, which require export and import licences
are subject to the same licensing requirements as commercial consignments.
Swedish authorities grant block licences that are valid up to six
months.
Swedish Legislation – Technical Requirements
All western European countries, including Sweden participates on equal
terms in the development of harmonization of European standards.
Certification, Approval and Marking
Certification is the verification that products are in conformity
with appropriate requirements e.g., stated standards. There are both
mandatory and voluntary certification schemes operating in Sweden.
Labelling
Sweden has harmonized its rules for labelling to EC. Foodstuff sold
to the final consumer or to mass caterers should be labelled with
the following information:
Type of food
Composition
of food
Net weight/net
volume
Storage instructions
Best before
date
Name and location
of the packer or manufacture
Place of origin
Marking
Packaging must be marked upon arrival, to correspond to information
on the bill of lading. Invoice and gross weight must be marked on
every packaging exceeding one metric ton in weight.
A harmonized, voluntary registration scheme of companies, with quality
assurance systems according to the ISO 9000 series standard are in
operation. This registration is a demand by buyers.
Swedish standards Institution (SIS) are the central body for standardization
in Sweden.
Trademarks and Intellectual Property Protection
Products and product concepts can be subject to various kinds of sole
rights. In Sweden more and more efforts are being made to defend and
exploit industrial property and to counter act the production of imitation.
Abusing Swedish rights could lead to severe consequences.
There are four main categories of sole rights that have its own characteristics:
Trademarks
This can consist of almost anything that indicates the commercial
origin of a product and service. Legal protection for trademarks may
be obtained by registration or by extensive use i.e., use to the extent
that the mark is well known by the purchasing public. However, it
is advisable to apply for registration of any trademark. This information
is publicly available in the trademark register.
Copyright
Copyright is protection of artistic creativity. No registration procedure
is necessary or even available in Sweden, but it is common to use
the © symbol together with reproduction of the work. It includes
the sole right to produce and re-produce or translate the work.
Patents
Patents constitute sole rights for inventions or protecting ideas.
To obtain patents the idea must be absolutely new. Patent protecting
means a sole right to import to Sweden, produce and sell in Sweden.
Design
Design protection is protecting appearance and form or shape of goods.
It does not include the function of products in anyway. Registration
procedure for design is similar to the Patent.
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