(CNN) — Toblerone bars, which are sold in more than 100 countries, will no longer qualify as Swiss chocolate: the company that owns the brand will relocate some production outside of Switzerland.
The round-shaped chocolate, which is made with honey and almond nougat, will also lose the iconic image of the Matterhorn (or Matterhorn) mountain that appears on its packaging, after Toblerone maker Mondelez decided to move part of its production to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.
“For legal reasons, the changes we are making to our production means that we will comply with the laws of Switzerland to our relatives. We have removed Swiss (chocolate) from the front of the Toblerone package and changed our description “originating in Switzerland. “‘to’ established in Switzerland,'” a Mondelez spokesperson told CNN.
Under Swiss law, which was passed in 2017, the country’s national symbols and cross cannot be used on products that do not meet the criteria of “Swiss” origin.
Legislation requires food to be “Swiss-made”, stating that 80% of the raw material originates in Switzerland, a figure that increases to 100% in the case of milk and dairy products. Essential processing must also take place in the region, with the exception of natural products that cannot originate in Switzerland, such as cocoa.
The new Mondelez package includes “a new shape and a distinctive Toblerone logo” and the signature of Theodore Tobler, the spokesperson added. Tobler created the chocolate bar in 1908 with his cousin Emil Baumann, according to the Mondelez website.
“Bern is an important part of our history and will continue to be in the future,” the official concluded.
The Swiss government’s website for small businesses cites “various studies” showing that the “Swiss brand” can account for 20% of the selling price of certain products, and up to 50% for luxury goods, compared to similar products from other countries.
The legislation aims to protect the value of the “Swiss origin” label, according to the site.
