Swiss regulator consults on amendments to Embargo Act

‘New provisions will not lead to any substantive changes in Swiss policy on international economic sanctions.’

Swiss export control regulator, SECO announced, late September, that the Federal Council had begun a consultation on amendments to the Embargo Act. These, it says, are ‘intended to ensure that the ban on imports of firearms, weapon components, ammunition and other goods from Russia and Ukraine can continue. In addition, the Federal Council will no longer have to rely on provisions of the Federal Constitution in order to deal with similar cases.’

SECO explained:

‘The Ordinance on Measures to Prevent the Circumvention of International Sanctions in connection with the Situation in Ukraine (SR 946.231.176.72) prohibits the import from Russia and Ukraine for military purposes of firearms, weapon components and ammunition, as well as explosives, pyrotechnic articles and gunpowder. The import ban was ordered for a period of four years in 2015 on the basis of Article 184 paragraph 3 of the Federal Constitution. On 26 June this year, the Federal Council decided to extend the ban by a further four years. At the same time, it instructed the EAER [Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research] to draw up a new legal basis for the content of the Ordinance. Consultation proceedings will conclude on 1 November 2019.’

SECO said that the new provisions in the Embargo Act ‘should enable the Federal Council to apply existing compulsory measures wholly or in part to other countries if this is necessary to safeguard Switzerland’s interests,’ and added, ‘The new provisions will not lead to any substantive changes in Swiss policy on international economic sanctions.’

See:
https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/seco/nsb-news/medienmitteilungen-2019.msg-id-76561.html