Civil procedure in Switzerland, which is a federal state, falls under the authority of the 26 federated states or cantons. Each canton has its own procedure. However, certain rules of procedure are common to all cantons. Consumers who wish to file a complaint have the advantage of instituting legal proceedings in the canton where they live. As well, each canton must establish a conciliation procedure or a simple and quick legal procedure for disputes arising out of contracts between consumers and suppliers, where the value at issue is no more than 8,000 Swiss francs.
Public law protects consumers by prescribing suppliers' conduct.
Consumers do not take legal action on their own initiative to defend their rights. As mentioned above, consumers are responsible for combating unfair marketing practices , which are defined as practices that are deceptive, misleading and confusing. This means that in cases where an unfair marketing practice is suspected, consumers or consumer protection agencies are authorized not only to take civil action but also to file a criminal complaint with the appropriate cantonal court. In this fashion, the Swiss government protects the public interest.