Health and Safety

COVID Certificate: changes in guidance to people visiting Geneva

All visitors entering all venues now require a COVID Certificate in the form of a QR code. This certificate will be a requirement in order to enter the Palexpo venue where Vitafoods Europe 2021 will take place.

What does a Covid certificate show?

A COVID Certificate provides evidence that you have had a COVID-19 vaccination, have recovered from the disease or have recently tested negative.

Fully vaccinated attendees must have had one of the following European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines:

• Pfizer / BioNTech
• Moderna
• AstraZeneca
• Janssen / Johnson & Johnson
• Sinopharm / BIBP
• Sinovac
• Covishield
  

Individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated will need to present proof, via an approved COVID Certificate, of:

• A negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours)
• A rapid antigen test (not older than 48 hours)
• Proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the last six months.
  

Which COVID Certificates are valid in Switzerland?

Swiss venues can accept EU Digital COVID Certificates, as well as certificates from Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Turkey.

In addition, the Canton of Geneva has announced that from the 20th of September, venues will be permitted to accept all foreign vaccination certificates for EMA-approved vaccines. These certificates are valid in paper or digital form and can be written in any language, provided a translation in English, German, Italian, French or Spanish is available on the same document.

This is a temporary measure as part of a transition to the use of Swiss government-issued COVID Certificates for fully (EMA approved) vaccinated visitors outside of the EU from the 12th May. Applications for these passes are now open.

Therefore, to enter Vitafoods Europe between the 10th-12th May, you must be able to produce an EU Digital COVID Certificate or non-EU pass with valid translation. If you wish to stay in Switzerland after the 12th May, and do not have an EU Digital COVID Certificate, you must also apply for a Swiss-issued COVID Certificate.

Where can I get a COVID Certificate?

The most recent travel guidance and information on how to obtain a COVID Certificate from the Swiss authorities can be accessed via the Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH). You can also use the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health’s Travelcheck tool to check your eligibility and conditions to enter Switzerland.

Where can I get a COVID-19 test in Geneva?

There will be onsite testing facilities at the Palexpo venue for Vitafoods Europe. However, to reduce queuing times, it is recommended that attendees requiring a test visit the Canton of Geneva website to find out where to book a test.