According to two daily newspapers, 24 Heures and Tribune de Genève, several Swiss importers have made false customs declarations in order to avoid paying taxes on certain seasonal fruits and vegetables.
During the tomato season in Switzerland, for example, taxes on imported tomatoes are purposefully prohibitive in order to protect local growers.
However, a number of companies have allegedly attempted to circumnavigate such charges, apparently by falsely declaring tomato imports as melon imports.
Reports state that the most common case is of tomatoes and salads from Italy being labelled as melons.
At least 10 Swiss importers are believed to be implicated, and one Italian exporter is currently under investigation.
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