It happens more often than you'd think, especially with orders placed from abroad: a CBD parcel gets held at Swiss customs, and the customer has no idea what to do next.
Understand why the parcel is held
In most cases, the hold comes from an incomplete declaration or a THC content that isn't clearly documented in the shipping papers. Swiss customs carry out strict checks, and a poorly labelled parcel attracts attention even if the product is actually perfectly legal.
Documents to request from the seller immediately
The most effective step is to contact the seller quickly to get a recent lab analysis confirming the THC content is below the legal limit, along with a detailed invoice. These documents can be sent directly to customs to unblock the situation, sometimes in just a few days.
The role of Swiss customs
You'll usually receive an official notice from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security explaining the exact reason for the hold and your options. It's important to reply within the stated deadline, otherwise the parcel may be returned to the sender or destroyed, depending on the procedure applied in each case.
"I got a letter from customs and didn't understand a thing at first. After sending the lab analysis the seller gave me within two days, the parcel arrived a week later with no other problem."
Why buying locally avoids this
That's one of the reasons we encourage customers to buy directly in Switzerland when they can: no risk of a customs hold, no uncertain wait, and the guarantee of leaving with a compliant product the moment you pay.
If you're in this situation with a parcel currently held, feel free to drop by our shop in Yverdon-les-Bains – we can help you understand the steps even if the product didn't come from us.
