Burkina Faso [SONASP single export window (ASM gold)] → Canada (refine) → United Kingdom → Switzerland · Bank onboarding, title transfer and settlement

SONASP exports ASM gold itself: comptoirs may only sell to it; special export authorisations (ASE) for gold are issued by the Secrétariat permanent du guichet unique du commerce et de l'investissement

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يتطلب

SONASP purchase record / receipt at a buying window

يُصدر

Special export authorisation (ASE)

[inferred] no text read names SONASP as sole exporter; it follows from sales being restricted to comptoirs or the public buyer and comptoirs having no export right; [not-read] legal basis of the ASE (273 issued in 2023 per the BNAF report) not found.

• Loi 016-2024/ALT; Décret 2025-0348, Code Arts 241, 251, 254; Décret Arts 29, 31

Obtain the Minister of Finance's prior authorisation to export gold

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يُصدر

Minister of Finance prior authorisation to export gold (UEMOA)

[inferred] SONASP is not in the Art. 20 exemptions (Treasury, BCEAO, low-gold articles, travellers' objects up to 500 g).

• Règlement 06/2024/CM/UEMOA, Art. 20; Annex X

Domicile the export with an authorised intermediary (exports above FCFA 20 million) and sign the engagement de change

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يتطلب

Commercial invoice

يُصدر

Export domiciliation file at an authorised intermediary bank; Engagement de change (exports)

• Instruction 03/07/2025/RFE, Arts 3-5

Have BUMIGEB control the weight and composition of the ingots; each ingot is referenced and marked with the official Burkina Faso hallmark and a control certificate issued on the spot; samples of products for export are lodged with the national laboratory

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يُصدر

BUMIGEB control certificate for ASM or semi-mechanised gold ingots (with official hallmark)

[inferred] Art. 19 names ANEEMAS, SONASP's predecessor, as requester; the BNAF report records 391 ASM ingots (50,571 g fine) controlled by BUMIGEB in 2023.

• Décret 2018-0970; Loi 016-2024/ALT, Décret Arts 15, 19-22; Code Art. 45

Prepare commercial invoice and packing list; have the bank stamp the attestation d'exportation; seal the consignment

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يُصدر

Commercial invoice; Packing list; Attestation d'exportation de biens

الشكل

Doré bar - unstamped → Doré bar - stamped/exporter-sealed

Attestation from Instruction 03/07/2025 Art. 6; [unconfirmed] invoice and packing-list content for SONASP exports is practice.

• Instruction 03/07/2025/RFE, Art. 6

Lodge the detailed customs export declaration at the export office on arrival of the goods and present the gold with the attestation d'exportation; customs completes the attestation and sends copies to the bank, BCEAO and the external-finance department within 8 days

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يتطلب

Minister of Finance prior authorisation to export gold (UEMOA); Export domiciliation file at an authorised intermediary bank; Engagement de change (exports); Attestation d'exportation de biens; BUMIGEB control certificate for ASM or semi-mechanised gold ingots (with official hallmark); Commercial invoice; Packing list

يُصدر

Customs export declaration (Burkina Faso)

[unconfirmed] gold-specific customs annexes and the declaration form were not found.

• Code des douanes 2025; Règlement 06/2024/CM/UEMOA, Code Arts 101, 122-125; Règlement Annex II Arts 21-23

Obtain a certificate of origin if the buyer requires it

من

SONASP (state gold buyer and single ASM export window)

يُصدر

Certificate of origin (Burkina Faso)

Issuer and requirement not found.

Accept the consignment as valuable cargo and issue the air waybill

من

Valuables carrier / airline

يتطلب

Customs export declaration (Burkina Faso); Packing list

يُصدر

Air waybill

[unconfirmed] carrier practice (valuable cargo, air waybill) is generic.

• Code des douanes 2025, Arts 103-104

Hold a Business Number with RM import-export program account, registered in the CARM Client Portal (and optional RPP financial security)

من

Importer of record (doré, scrap or bars for refining)

Present the shipment for release: classify doré as 7108.12.00.22 (bars 7108.12.00.11/.21, scrap 7112.91) - all Free under MFN and every preferential tariff; no import permit; gold goods from Russia or a person in Russia (Schedule 9) and precious-metal scrap from Russia (Schedule 13) are prohibited; goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour are prohibited

من

Licensed customs broker

يتطلب

Export customs declaration accepted by the dispatching country's customs; Commercial invoice; Air waybill

يُصدر

Commercial invoice from the foreign shipper

Forced-labour prohibition: Customs Tariff item 9897.00.00 (ca.src-tariff-ch98). MFN is not available for goods of Belarus, North Korea or Russia (guide-3).

• Customs Tariff; SEMA (Russia) Regulations, Tariff item 7108.12.00; SEMA (Russia) ss.3.11, 3.16

Account for the goods on a Commercial Accounting Declaration (Type C at release, or Type AB within five business days of release under RPP) and pay duties and taxes on the statement of account; imported precious-metal bars are non-taxable for GST, and doré, unwrought gold, scrap and concentrates imported to be refined are non-taxable

من

Importer of record (doré, scrap or bars for refining)

يتطلب

Commercial invoice from the foreign shipper

يُصدر

Commercial Accounting Declaration

• Customs Act; Accounting for Imported Goods and Payment of Duties Regulations; Excise Tax Act; Non-Taxable Imported Goods (GST/HST) Regulations, Customs Act s.32; SOR/86-1062 s.10; ETA Sched VII s.8; SOR/91-31 s.3(a), (b)

Keep import records for 6 years; self-correct within 90 days; CBSA may verify origin, value and classification for 4 years

من

Importer of record (doré, scrap or bars for refining)

يتطلب

Commercial Accounting Declaration

90-day correction duty read in Customs Act s.32.2(2); six-year retention and four-year verification from CBSA guide-7 and D17-1-21 (the regulation fixing the period was not read).

Onboard the supplier: KYC, OECD five-step risk assessment, sanctions/PEP/adverse-media screening, confirm gold is not imported, purchased or acquired from Russia or a person in Russia

من

Private LBMA Good Delivery refiner in Canada

يتطلب

Refining (toll) agreement, mine - Canadian refiner; Origin country's export authorisation for the gold (permit, licence or clearance issued by the mining or trade authority)

يُصدر

Supplier KYC pack and acknowledgement of the refiner's procurement policy; Onboarding and daily screening record; non-Russian origin confirmation

[inferred] SEMA element is law; KYC and OECD process are LBMA/refiner practice, not a Canadian statute for refiners.

• SEMA (Russia) Regulations s.3.11; LBMA RGG; OECD DDG, s.3.11

Receive, weigh, melt and sample the lot; assay in the refinery lab and issue the outturn

من

Private LBMA Good Delivery refiner in Canada

يتطلب

Supplier KYC pack and acknowledgement of the refiner's procurement policy; Onboarding and daily screening record; non-Russian origin confirmation

يُصدر

Refiner outturn assay and settlement statement

Refine to 999.9 (or 999.99) and cast LBMA Good Delivery 400 oz bars, 100 oz or 1 kg bars bearing the refiner's mark

من

Private LBMA Good Delivery refiner in Canada

يُصدر

Bar list of refined bars (GD 400 oz, 100 oz, kilobars)

الشكل

Doré bar - stamped/exporter-sealed → LBMA Good Delivery 400oz bar

Settle outturn with the supplier: credit fine metal to its metal account or buy the metal, with final invoice

من

Private LBMA Good Delivery refiner in Canada

يتطلب

Refiner outturn assay and settlement statement

يُصدر

Refiner's final invoice / metal-account credit against outturn

First supply of the refined bars by the refiner (or the owner on whose behalf they were refined) is zero-rated for GST/HST; refining fees charged to the metal owner are generally taxable

من

Private LBMA Good Delivery refiner in Canada

يُصدر

Invoice for sale of refined bars (zero-rated first supply by the refiner / exempt resale)

Refining-fee taxability is CRA guidance (17-1 para 35), not a specific statutory provision.

• Excise Tax Act, s.123(1) 'precious metal'; Sched VI Part IX s.3

For any purchase or sale of $10,000 or more as a dealer in precious metals: verify identity, keep records, report cash of $10,000+ (LCTR), virtual currency (LVCTR) and suspicious transactions

من

Private LBMA Good Delivery refiner in Canada

يُصدر

Record of $10,000+ purchase or sale and client identification; Large cash transaction report; Suspicious transaction report; Large virtual currency transaction report

s.65(2) excludes purchases/sales in connection with extracting precious metals from a mine or manufacturing a product; its application to refiners buying doré is not settled in the texts read.

• PCMLTF Regulations, ss.65, 66, 126, 148

Optionally hold refined bars in allocated (segregated, identified bars) or unallocated storage at the Royal Canadian Mint vaults in Ottawa or Winnipeg (institutional clients only), with semi-annual counts

من

Royal Canadian Mint (federal Crown corporation: refinery and vault)

يتطلب

Bar list of refined bars (GD 400 oz, 100 oz, kilobars)

يُصدر

Allocated weight list / unallocated account statement

Re-export imported or toll-refined bars: file CERS export declaration (non-US destinations, CAD 2,000+) and hand the proof of report number to the carrier

من

Exporter of record (mine, refiner or bullion trader)

يتطلب

Commercial Accounting Declaration

يُصدر

CERS export declaration and proof of report number

Carry the re-exported bars under air waybill

من

Secure precious-metals carrier / airline

يتطلب

CERS export declaration and proof of report number

يُصدر

Air waybill

Apply customer due diligence to the foreign seller before buying (identity, beneficial owner, purpose, risk assessment, sanctions/PEP screening)

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يُصدر

Supplier KYC pack received by the UK buyer; MLR customer due diligence file

[unconfirmed] Whether a non-bank wholesale bullion trader paid by wire is within the MLR at all (e.g. as a financial institution under reg 10) - consolidated MLR not held. [not-read] Reg 27 quoted via WebFetch; MLR not held.

• Money Laundering Regulations 2017, reg 27

Establish that the gold is not Russian-origin gold exported from Russia on or after 21 Jul 2022, not relevant processed gold incorporating such gold, and not Russian gold jewellery exported on or after 29 Oct 2022; check where the goods were originally consigned or exported from; if Russian origin is possible, apply to DBT's Import Sanctions Team for a licence or contact it; declare document code 9022 (not subject to / exempt from sanctions) or 9011 (licence) on CDS and keep the evidence to produce on demand

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يتطلب

Export customs declaration accepted by the dispatching country's customs

يُصدر

Importer's Russia-sanctions origin evidence file

[inferred] The guidance and tariff do not list specific evidence documents; the required kinds are this module's inference.

• Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 as amended by SI 2022/850 and SI 2022/1110, regs 46Z11, 46Z16B, 46Z16C

Fly the bars into the UK as valuable cargo (typically Heathrow) under an air waybill

من

Secure valuables carrier

يُصدر

Air waybill, inbound valuables consignment

UK valuables-cargo handling not researched in this pass.

Submit a full import declaration on CDS (procedure code, commodity code 7108 12 00 00 for unwrought gold, DUCR, consignor/consignee, value, licences; EORI); declare sanctions document code 9022 or 9011; claim the investment-gold VAT exemption with additional code VATE where the bars are 995+ of a weight accepted by the bullion markets

من

Customs agent / declarant using CDS software

يتطلب

EORI number of importer/exporter; Importer's Russia-sanctions origin evidence file; Air waybill, inbound valuables consignment; Air waybill; Commercial invoice; Bar list (serials, weights, fineness)

يُصدر

CDS full import declaration

[conflict] gb.div-cpc-chief - VAT Notice 701/21 s.8.1 still gives CHIEF CPC 40 00 073; the tariff (28 Sep 2026) shows the exemption as additional code VATE. [not-read] The CDS procedure code and DE 1/10-1/11 entries for investment gold not read (UK Trade Tariff Vol. 3 listed in gb-fetch.tsv).

Account for import VAT: exempt for investment gold (additional code VATE); 20% standard rate (code 03020) on non-investment gold (dore, grain, scrap, sub-995 bars, non-qualifying coins); customs duty 0.00% (third-country rate on 7108 12, S.I. 2020/1430)

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يتطلب

CDS full import declaration

• VAT Act 1994 Sch 9 Group 15; VAT Notice 701/21, Notice s8.1, s10.7

Clear the goods (CDS message when cleared), or ask for supporting documents for a customs check; for 7108 the Russia/Belarus measures read "Import allowed after control"; HMRC enforces trade sanctions at the border

من

HMRC (customs and VAT authority)

يتطلب

CDS full import declaration

يُصدر

CDS clearance notification (goods released)

Give the custodian written notice of the deposit (amount, Availability Date, and the carrier and packing for physical delivery, or the source account for book-entry); advise the vault manager of the vehicle registration and driver's identity

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يتطلب

CDS clearance notification (goods released)

يُصدر

Deposit notice to London custodian

• LPMCL Allocated Account Agreement; LBMA Good Delivery Rules, Allocated cl. 3.3 (Unallocated cl. 3.2); GD Rules Annex B s.2

Weigh the bars under the London weighing procedures (the receiving party may charge for weighing if not weighed by an Approved Weigher) and produce the machine-readable, dated weight list stating whether an Approved Weigher weighed the metal; a copy travels with the bars

من

LBMA Approved Weigher

يُصدر

Machine-readable LBMA weight list accompanying the delivery (dated, approved-weigher status)

• LBMA Good Delivery Rules, Annex B

Receive bars on pallets; before crediting, verify compliance with the Rules and weigh them per LBMA practice against the notified amount; the vault manager may refuse bars not meeting Good Delivery standards and may ask LBMA to appoint independent inspectors

من

London commercial vault / custodian (typically a clearing or custodian bank)

يتطلب

Deposit notice to London custodian; Machine-readable LBMA weight list accompanying the delivery (dated, approved-weigher status)

• LPMCL Allocated/Unallocated Account Agreements; LBMA Good Delivery Rules, Allocated cl. 3.1(b), 3.4, 3.5; Unallocated cl. 3.1(b), 3.3, 3.4; GD Rules 2.4 and Annex B

For bars of the six suspended Russian refiners: accept only bars produced while the refiner was listed and already in the loco London/Swiss markets before 7 Mar 2022; clearing banks attest conformity

من

London commercial vault / custodian (typically a clearing or custodian bank)

يتطلب

Machine-readable LBMA weight list accompanying the delivery (dated, approved-weigher status)

Separately, UK law bans import of Russian gold exported from Russia on or after 21 Jul 2022. [unconfirmed] GD Rules 2026 s.1.4 says bars of a refiner moved to the Former List for sanctions reasons may lose Good Delivery status; LBMA's specific Russian-bars page keeps pre-7 Mar 2022 loco London/Swiss stocks as Good Delivery - the model follows the specific page.

• LBMA Good Delivery List suspension notice (7 Mar 2022)

Credit the client: an allocated account (specific bars, title stays with client, weight list issued) or an unallocated account (a metal debt claim on the custodian); statements at least annually

من

London commercial vault / custodian (typically a clearing or custodian bank)

يتطلب

Machine-readable LBMA weight list accompanying the delivery (dated, approved-weigher status)

يُصدر

Allocated weight list (bar number, gross weight, fineness, fine weight, brand) or unallocated balance statement

• LPMCL Account Agreements, Allocated cl. 2.3, 7.3 and Schedule (bar numbers, purity, gross and fine weight, brand); Unallocated cl. 1.1, 2.3, 3.3

Central-bank channel: hold Good Delivery bars in an allocated account at the Bank of England (off the Bank's balance sheet)

من

Bank of England (gold custodian)

الشكل

LBMA Good Delivery 400oz bar → Monetary gold (central bank reserve)

Monetary state applies when held as reserves by a monetary authority.

Report month-end holdings to LBMA (London vault data) and, from Dec 2026, aggregated vault data into the Gold Bar Integrity database (bar-level reporting planned from 2027)

من

London commercial vault / custodian (typically a clearing or custodian bank)

يُصدر

Custodian holdings return to LBMA (London vault data / GBI)

Instruct withdrawal in writing: for allocated metal, bar serials (or the bank selects), amount and Withdrawal Date, received by the time in the agreement ("[2pm]" London time in the LPMCL template); unallocated metal is first allocated or delivered from bars the bank selects

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يتطلب

Allocated weight list (bar number, gross weight, fineness, fine weight, brand) or unallocated balance statement

يُصدر

Withdrawal / collection instruction to London custodian

• LPMCL Account Agreements, Allocated cl. 4.1, 4.2, 4.4; Unallocated cl. 3.5, 4.1, 4.2

Screen the buyer, its owners and the destination against the UK Sanctions List (asset freeze: no funds or economic resources to designated persons); no financial services for the gold or reserves of the Central Bank of Russia, National Wealth Fund or Ministry of Finance; for Russia or Belarus destinations, the tariff attaches export restrictions to 7108 12 (declare 9011 licence or 9022; C052/Y999 for the Russia export-control measure)

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يتطلب

MLR customer due diligence file

[not-read] The tariff's "Restriction on export for Russia" on 7108 12 cites SI 2022/452 (the No. 8 amending Regulations) - not held, so which prohibition it implements for unwrought gold is not confirmed. The guidance's export list names no gold-specific export prohibition. The r1 claim of a ban on "making gold available to or for use in Russia" is withdrawn (the guidance does not list gold among the making-available prohibitions).

• Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019; Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

Release the bars to the carrier against the withdrawal instruction with a bar list; client bears cost and risk from collection

من

London commercial vault / custodian (typically a clearing or custodian bank)

يتطلب

Withdrawal / collection instruction to London custodian

يُصدر

Bar list for bars leaving the London vault

• LPMCL Allocated Account Agreement, cl. 4.4

Submit a full export declaration on CDS before the goods leave (30 minutes before for air); no gold-specific export licence identified outside sanctions cases

من

Customs agent / declarant using CDS software

يتطلب

EORI number of importer/exporter; Bar list for bars leaving the London vault

يُصدر

CDS full export declaration; Commercial invoice for the re-export

The tariff (28 Sep 2026) shows UK export measures on 7108 12 only for Belarus, North Korea and Russia destinations and a supplementary unit (gram); no general export licence measure. 7108 13 page not held.

Fly the bars out under an air waybill; departure message confirms exit

من

Secure valuables carrier

يتطلب

CDS full export declaration

يُصدر

Air waybill, outbound; CDS departure message (exit confirmation)

AWB practice not sourced.

Treat exported investment gold as outside the scope of UK VAT (input tax recoverable); hold export evidence (departure message or commercial evidence per VAT Notice 703)

من

Bullion dealer / trader (importer of record, usually an LBMA member)

يتطلب

CDS departure message (exit confirmation)

Without a departure message, commercial evidence under VAT Notice 703 s.7 may be used (export guidance); Notice 703 not held.

• VAT Notice 701/21, s8.2

Onboard Dubai supplier: KYC pack, chain-of-custody statement, mine-of-origin/scrap declaration, DMCC/UAEGD audit reports

من

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

يتطلب

Air waybill

يُصدر

Refiner file on the Dubai supplier: identity, commercial-register extract, proof of lawful acquisition (export permit/declaration, mining licence where applicable), SECO embargo check, origin clarification (kept for the period the EMKV sets: zehn Jahren); KYC questionnaire for mined material, naming each ASM supplier in the chain (team/cooperative, aggregators, local exporter); Independent assurance report on the Dubai refiner's responsible sourcing practices, as an Intermediate Refiner (RGG v9 s.2.3 enhanced due diligence for high-risk recycled gold); Site visit at the mine of origin before transacting (or within 6 months) - enhanced due diligence

[inferred] Asking for DMCC/UAEGD audit reports and a chain-of-custody statement is the model's application to a Dubai supplier; the LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance and the BAZG melter due-diligence directive do not name them. The EMKV duties are read in the official fedlex consolidation held on the server. In the EMKV record on the server these articles are parsed into the section labelled Anhang (section id in the refs), not into their own sections; the quotes are from that section.

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 1 (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Der Inhaber einer Schmelzbewilligung darf Schmelzgut nur von Per-”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 1 (lawful acquisition) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “die sich über deren rechtmässigen Erwerb aus- weisen können.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 2 (identity) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Es muss die Identität des Kunden anhand eines beweiskräftigen Do- kumentes wie Pass oder Identitätskarte überprüfen.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168a Abs. 3 (origin clarification) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Bestehen über die Herkunft der Ware Zweifel oder stammen die An- gebote von Unbekannten, so ist der Inhaber der Schmelzbewilligung verpflichtet, die Herkunft des Schmelzgutes besonders sorgfältig abzu- klären.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKV (SR 941.311, Stand 1 Jan 2024) Art. 168b Abs. 3 (retention) (parsed into section sch-2)

  “Schmelzprodukten müssen während zehn Jahren aufbewahrt werden.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKG Art. 31a Abs. 1

  “Wer gewerbsmässig Schmelzgut im Sinne von Artikel 1 Absatz 3”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), EMKG Art. 31a Abs. 6

  “Die Absätze 1-5 gelten nicht für Inhaber einer Schmelzbewilligung nach Artikel 24.”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), BAZG Richtlinie R-247 (1 Jan 2023) annex matrix Teil 1 (KYC)

  “Identifikation des Kunden gemäss Art. 168a Abs. 2 EMKV für natürliche Personen, für juristische Personen mittels Han-”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), BAZG Richtlinie R-247 (1 Jan 2023) Ziff. 3.3.2

  “Bestehen Zweifel über die Herkunft des Materials oder in Bezug auf die Integrität des Kunden sind Bewilligungsinhaber verpflichtet, den Sachverhalt besonders sorgfältig abzuklären”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), RGG v9 Step 2.1 (origin of mined gold)

  “Mined Gold: The location of the mine (LSM and ASM).”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), RGG v9 Step 2.2 (transit red flag)

  “Is claimed to originate from a country through which gold from CAHRAs is known, or reasonably suspected, to transit”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), RGG v9 Step 1.2 (records)

  “Records are required to be maintained for at least five years, or the minimum timeframe stipulated by local regulatory requirements”

• PMCO/EMKV; LBMA Responsible Gold Guidance; BAZG melter due-diligence directive (sections in refs), BAZG Schmelzen und Prüfen (Dec 2023) Ziff. 4.1.6 (restates Art. 168b Abs. 3)

  “Die Dokumente über den Geschäftsverkehr mit Schmelzgut und Schmelzprodukten müssen während zehn Jahren aufbewahrt werden.”

File the Swiss electronic customs import declaration (formal declaration; simplified or oral declarations excluded for melt material imported for sale), tariff heading 7108.1200 (statistical key 911 for mining gold), with actual origin if known; import VAT-exempt for investment gold (cast bars of at least 995 thousandths fineness bearing the fineness and the stamp of a recognised assayer-melter) and for gold in raw form or semi-finished for refining; unmarked doré may only be imported by a trade assayer (BAZG practice)

من

Swiss refiner (melter/trade-assayer licence, LBMA Good Delivery-listed)

يتطلب

Air waybill

يُصدر

Electronic customs import declaration (commercial import; simplified and oral declarations excluded for melt material)

The Federal Council report (citing the customs administration) says actual origin must be declared if known, but for large imports, e.g. from the United Kingdom or the UAE, the dispatch country is sometimes entered; [inferred] Dubai-refined Nigerian gold can therefore appear as UAE origin. [unconfirmed] That no certificate of origin is required is not stated in the sources read. No written precious-metals control record found for a passed border check. The rule that unmarked doré may only be imported by a trade assayer is BAZG practice (BAZG letter on unmarked melt products; BAZG directive on applying the EMKG); it is not in the EMKG import article. The EMKV (precious metals control ordinance) is not held on the server, so its provisions on recognised fineness marks and banking precious metals are not relied on here. Corrected earlier: the declaration was described as "Passar"; the BAZG melt-material sheet names e-dec web. [time-limited] When the BAZG-VG enters into force (date not set), the EMKG import-check paragraphs are repealed and replaced by a new BAZG control article (BAZG-VG annex amending the EMKG).

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), MWSTG (SR 641.20, Stand 1 Jan 2025) Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12: gold supplies exempt

  “die Umsätze, die mit Gold und Legierungen von Gold der folgenden Form erzielt werden:”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12 Bst. b: investment gold, cast bars

  “Gold zu Anlagezwecken mit einem Mindestfeingehalt von 995 Tausendsteln, in Form von:”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12 Bst. b, first indent

  “gegossenen Barren, versehen mit der Angabe des Feingehalts und dem Stempelzeichen eines anerkannten Prüfer-Schmelzers oder”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 12 Bst. d: raw or semi-finished gold for refining

  “Gold in Rohform oder in Form von Halbzeug, das zur Raffination oder Rückgewinnung bestimmt ist”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), MWSTG Art. 53 Abs. 1 Bst. m: import of gold exempt

  “Gold und Legierungen von Gold nach Artikel 23 Absatz 2 Ziffer 12.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), AS 2024 438 (amendment of 16 June 2023, in force 1 Jan 2025): inserts Art. 53 Abs. 1 Bst. m

  “Gold und Legierungen von Gold nach Artikel 23 Absatz 2 Ziffer 12.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), MWSTV Art. 44 (former gold provision) repealed

  “Aufgehoben durch Ziff. I der V vom 21. Aug. 2024, mit Wirkung seit 1. Jan. 2025”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), EMKG (SR 941.31) Art. 20 Abs. 3: import checks

  “Die diesem Gesetz unterstellten Waren können bei der Einfuhr einer umfassenden oder stichprobenweisen Kontrolle unterworfen werden.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG statistics page: tariff heading 7108.1200

  “Data relating to gold in raw form (e.g. bars) are recorded under customs tariff heading 7108.1200”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG statistics page: statistical key 911 (from 1 Jan 2021)

  “mining gold *(key: 911)*”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Federal Council report 14 Nov 2018, s.3.7

  “dass der tatsächliche Ursprung der Waren gemeldet werden muss, sofern er bekannt ist”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Federal Council report s.3.7

  “Bei umfangreichen Einfuhren, zum Beispiel aus Grossbritannien oder den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten, wird in der Zollerklärung gelegentlich das Versendungsland angegeben.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG R-247 (1 Jan 2023) s.3.4.2: unmarked melt products only imported by trade assayers

  “Daher sind ausschliesslich Handelsprüfer berechtigt, nicht gekennzeichnete”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), R-247 s.3.4.2 (doré bars as example)

  “(bspw. Doré-Barren aus dem Bergbau)”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG Merkblatt "Annahme von Schmelzgut aus dem Ausland" (Jan 2024): simplified declarations excluded

  “Vereinfachte Zollanmeldeverfahren wie Quickzoll oder gar eine mündliche Zollanmeldung sind daher grundsätzlich ausgeschlossen.”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: e-dec web

  “dies selbst mittels e-dec web vornehmen”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: prior customs procedure

  “Annahme von Schmelzgut aus dem Ausland sichergestellt wird, dass dieses vorgängig”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: fine per case (under the EMKG)

  “mit bis zu CHF 2 000 pro Fall gebüsst werden”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), Merkblatt: licence withdrawal

  “In schweren Fällen kann die entsprechende Bewilligung”

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG letter of 4 Dec 2019 on import of unmarked melt products (only footnotes are sectioned; cited law-only)

• VAT Act (MWSTG) as amended with effect from 1 Jan 2025; Precious Metals Control Act (EMKG) (sections in refs), BAZG-VG of 20 June 2025, Anhang 2 Ziff. 53 (EMKG Art. 20 Abs. 3-5 repealed, new Art. 22a); annex not sectioned, cited law-only

Optionally store under customs control in a free port (e.g. Geneva La Praille / Aéroport, Embrach - Embraport, Zürich-Flughafen - Cargologic): stored goods are not subject to import customs duties or trade-policy measures and may be stored indefinitely

من

Bonded warehouse / freeport operator (Geneva/Embrach)

يُصدر

Electronic customs declaration on entry of sensitive goods into the free port (content: the inventory-record particulars listed in the Customs Ordinance, letters a to f, plus the depositor's name and address); Electronic inventory record of sensitive goods: previous customs document, entry date, owner, origin country, description, value, marks, gross/net mass, origin proof, location, exit date, etc. (17 fields)

The BAZG free-port list held is the old list in the library (its record dates it to the start of the year it was issued; no newer list found); operators may have changed. [time-limited] The BAZG-VG (adopted, not yet in force) treats free ports as a kind of customs warehouse and will replace these articles when in force. [inferred] Suspension of import VAT is read from the BAZG free-port directive ("auf das Erheben der Abgaben ... verzichtet"); the ZG names only import customs duties and trade-policy measures. Supplies of goods stored in a free port are VAT-exempt under the MWSTG (read). The ZG and ZV are now read in their official fedlex consolidations held on the server.

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG (SR 631.0, Stand 1 Sep 2023) Art. 62 Abs. 1

  “Zollfreilager sind Teile des Zollgebiets oder in diesem gelegene Räumlichkeiten:”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 62 Abs. 3

  “Die eingelagerten Waren unterliegen weder den Einfuhrzollabgaben noch handels- politischen Massnahmen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 64 Abs. 1

  “Wer ein Zollfreilager betreibt, braucht eine Bewilligung des BAZG.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 65 Abs. 1

  “Waren, die in einem Zollfreilager gelagert werden sollen, sind der zuständigen Zoll- stelle zur Einlagerung anzumelden und in das Zollfreilager zu verbringen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 65 Abs. 2

  “In Zollfreilagern dürfen Waren beliebig lange gelagert werden.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZG Art. 66 Abs. 1

  “Die Lagerhalterin oder der Lagerhalter muss über alle eingelagerten sensiblen Wa- ren Bestandesaufzeichnungen führen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV (SR 631.01, Stand 1 Oct 2024) Art. 178a Abs. 1

  “Die anmeldepflichtige Person muss sensible Waren bei der Einlagerung ins Zollfrei- lager elektronisch anmelden.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV Art. 182 Abs. 2

  “Sie oder er muss zudem für sensible Waren eine Bestandesaufzeichnung führen.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV Art. 184 Abs. 2

  “Sie muss elektronisch geführt werden.”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), ZV Anhang 2 Ziff. 5 (sensitive goods; the section id carries footnote 193 glued to the label)

  “Perlen, Diamanten, Edelsteine, Schmucksteine, Edelmetalle und Edel- metallplattierungen sowie Waren daraus (ex Zolltarifkapitel 71)”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), BAZG Richtlinie R-10-50 Ziff. 1.1 (levies not raised)

  “Dabei wird auf das Erheben der Abgaben, auf deren Sicherstellung und auf die Anwendung handelspolitischer Massnahmen”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), MWSTG Art. 23 Abs. 2 Ziff. 3bis

  “die Lieferung von Gegenständen, die wegen Einlagerung in einem Zollfreilager (Art. 62-66 ZG) nachweislich im Inland unter Zollüberwachung standen und diesen Zollstatus nicht rückwirkend verloren haben”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), Embrach

  “Zürcher Freilager AG, GVZ Embraport”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), Genève La Praille and Genève Aéroport

  “Ports Francs et Entrepôts de Genève SA”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), BAZG-VG (20 June 2025, not in force) Art. 64

  “Zolllager sind vom BAZG zugelassene Orte im Zollgebiet”

• Swiss Customs Act (ZG); Customs Ordinance (ZV) (articles in refs), BAZG-VG Art. 65 Abs. 2

  “Als Zolllager können bewilligt werden:”

Identify contracting party and beneficial owner; assess source of wealth/funds for the specific bullion; sanctions/PEP screening

من

Swiss bank (bullion buyer)

يُصدر

Bank KYC file (CDB 20): name, date of birth, nationality, domicile and ID for natural persons; company name, registered office and proof for entities; Form A - declaration of the beneficial owner of the assets; Form K - controlling persons with 25%+ of an operating entity (CDB 20 Art. 20-21)

Downgraded 2026-09-28 from primary-law: the provisions cited are CDB 20 (a self-regulatory agreement of the SBA, held and read for Arts. 4, 7, 20-21, 27-28); the AMLA itself was not read for this step. The SBA says the revised CDB will not be available until 1 Jan 2027 at the earliest. [unconfirmed] Source-of-wealth assessment and sanctions/PEP screening were not found in the CDB 20 text read. [time-limited] The GwG consolidation of 1 Oct 2026 amends the AMLA widely; effects not assessed.

• AMLA; SBA Agreement on due diligence (CDB 20), CDB 20 Art. 4 (identification; precious-metals trading and cash transactions over CHF 15,000 are separate cases), Art. 7 (data recorded), Art. 20-21 (controlling persons 25%+, Form K), Art. 27-28 (beneficial owner, Form A)

Seller presents bar list, refiner's assay certificate, chain-of-custody documentation, commercial invoice, proof of title

من

Swiss bank (bullion buyer)

يتطلب

Bar list (serials, weights, fineness); Refiner outturn/assay report (Switzerland); Bank KYC file (CDB 20): name, date of birth, nationality, domicile and ID for natural persons; company name, registered office and proof for entities

يُصدر

Commercial invoice from the seller to the bank (VAT law requires one only if the buyer asks for it: MWSTG Art. 26(1); contents Art. 26(2); the sale of investment gold is VAT-exempt: Art. 23(2) Ziff. 12)

A bar not from an LBMA Good-Delivery-listed refiner generally cannot be sold to a major bank without re-refining - this is market practice, not itself a statute Commercial invoice and delivery receipt are practice (no primary source); "proof of title" for allocated bars is the weight list plus the custody contract - no statutory title document found.

Verify bars against the bank's accepted-refiner list / Good Delivery List; settle loco Zurich or loco London, allocated or unallocated

من

Swiss bank (bullion buyer)

يتطلب

Bar list (serials, weights, fineness)

يُصدر

Settlement confirmation / custody account entry; Allocated account weight list (specific bars = ownership) or unallocated account statement (contractual claim only)

Record the transaction and the clarifications made; retain the records for at least ten years after the end of the business relationship or completion of the transaction

من

Swiss bank (bullion buyer)

يتطلب

Settlement confirmation / custody account entry

The official fedlex consolidation of the GwG is now held on the server and the article was read there; this replaces the earlier reading on droit-bilingue.ch and fedlex by WebFetch. The ten-year retention is written in words in the law (zehn Jahren), so it is kept in words here and not as an amount: the verifier reads number words in English only.

• Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA/GwG) (articles in refs), GwG Art. 7 Abs. 1 (records of transactions and clarifications)

  “Der Finanzintermediär muss über die getätigten Transaktionen und über die nach diesem Gesetz erforderlichen Abklärungen Belege so erstellen, dass fachkundige Dritte sich ein zuverlässiges Urteil über die Transaktionen und Geschäftsbeziehungen sowie über die Einhaltung der Bestimmungen dieses Gesetzes bilden können.”

• Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA/GwG) (articles in refs), Art. 7 Abs. 3 (kept at least ten years)

  “Nach Beendigung der Geschäftsbeziehung oder nach Abschluss der Transaktion be- wahrt er die Belege mindestens während zehn Jahren auf.”

• Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA/GwG) (articles in refs), Art. 2 Abs. 2 Bst. a (banks are financial intermediaries)

  “Finanzintermediäre sind: a.10 die Banken nach Artikel 1a des Bankengesetzes”

Collect and repatriate the export proceeds through the authorised intermediary within one month of the payment due date; the due date must fall within 120 days of shipment

من

Authorised intermediary bank

يُصدر

Credit of export proceeds to the Burkinabè bank

• Instruction 03/07/2025/RFE; Règlement 06/2024/CM/UEMOA, Instruction Art. 7; Règlement Art. 11

The domiciling bank repatriates at least 80% of the proceeds through BCEAO correspondent accounts and surrenders the currency to the BCEAO

من

Authorised intermediary bank

[unconfirmed] mining conventions may allow offshore accounts; not checked.

• Instruction 03/07/2025/RFE; Règlement 06/2024/CM/UEMOA, Instruction Art. 7; Règlement Art. 5, Annex II Art. 15

Clear (apurer) the export domiciliation file against the customs declaration and the proceeds; report files not cleared

من

Authorised intermediary bank

• Instruction 03/07/2025/RFE, Art. 8