Source: https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19960753/199804010000/comparison.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 09:23:39+00:00

Document:
This Act has as its aim the fulfilment of Switzerland's international obligations and the respect of its foreign policy principles by means of controlling the manufacture and transfer of war material and related technology, while at the same time maintaining an industrial capacity in Switzerland that it adapted to the requirements of its national defence.
the transfer of intellectual property, including know-how, and the granting of related rights, provided this relates to war material and is intended for private individuals or legal entities that have their domicile or headquarters abroad.
This Act applies without prejudice to customs legislation, the regulations on payment transactions and other legislation on foreign trade.
1 Amended by No I 4 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248 257; BBl 2000 3369).
The provisions relating to the initial licence (Art. 9-11) do not apply to federal armaments companies.1 The provisions on brokerage (Art. 15 and 16), import and export (Art. 17-19), and the transfer of intellectual property or the granting of rights thereto (Art. 20 and 21) do not apply to armaments companies, provided that their activities relate to the procurement of war material for the Swiss armed forces.
Equipment that has been specifically conceived or modified for use in combat or for the conduct of combat and which is not as a general rule used for civilian purposes.
2 War material also includes individual components and assembly packages, which may also be partially processed, provided it is discernable that such components cannot be used in the same form for civilian purposes.
3 The Federal Council shall designate what is war material in an ordinance.
1 "Manufacture" within the meaning of this Act is any professional activity involving the production of war material or the modification of parts essential to its function.
2 "Trade" within the meaning of this Act is any professional activity involving the offer, acquisition or passing on of war material.
the conclusion of such contracts if this service is provided by third parties.
to assist anyone to carry out an act mentioned in letter a above.
to provide protection against the effects of NBC weapons or to combat such effects.
the perpetrator is Swiss or is domiciled in Switzerland.
1 Term according to No I of the Federal Act of 19 Dec. 2003, in force since 1 June 2004 (AS 2004 2451 2452; BBl 2003 2196 2210). This amendment is taken into account throughout this Act.
2 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
3 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
4 Term in accordance with No I of the Federal Act of 19 Dec. 2003, in force since 1 June 2004 (AS 2004 2451 2452; BBl 2003 2196 2210). This amendment is taken into account throughout this Act.
5 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 20 March 1998, in force since 1 March 1999 (AS 1999 1155 1156; BBl 1998 679).
6 Inserted by No I of the Federal Act of 19 Dec. 2003, in force since 1 June 2004 (AS 2004 2451 2452; BBl 2003 2196 2210).
2 Paragraph 1 also applies to explosive bomblets that are specifically intended to be dispersed or released by dispensers affixed to an aircraft.
3 For the development of procedures for detecting, clearing, or destroying cluster munition and for training in such procedures, the retention or transfer of a quantity of cluster munition is permitted. The quantity of cluster munition retained shall not exceed the minimum quantity absolutely necessary for the above-mentioned purposes.
1 Inserted by No I of the Federal Act of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
1 The direct financing of the development, manufacture or acquisition of prohibited war material is itself prohibited.
2 Direct financing within the meaning of this Act is the direct granting of credits, loans or gifts or comparable financial advantages in order to pay or advance costs and expenditures that are associated with the development, manufacture or acquisition of prohibited war material.
1 The indirect financing of the development, manufacture or acquisition of prohibited war material is itself prohibited where the prohibition of direct financing is circumvented thereby.
the acquisition of debt securities or other investment products issued by such companies.
1 Amended by Annex No 1 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
2 Amended by No I 4 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248 257; BBl 2000 3369).
the intended activity is not contrary the national interest.
2 If the applicant also requires authorisation in terms of the federal or cantonal legislation on weapons for his activities, the initial licence is granted only if authorisation under the legislation on weapons has been granted.
1 The initial licence is non-assignable and applies only to the war material mentioned therein. It may be of limited duration and subject to conditions and requirements.
2 It may be revoked completely or in part if the requirements for its grant are no longer fulfilled.
3 It does not replace authorisations that must be obtained in terms of other regulations under federal or cantonal law.
1 Repealed by No I 2 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248; BBl 2000 3369).
2 Inserted by No I 2 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248 257; BBl 2000 3369).
1 Anyone who on Swiss territory wishes to broker war material for a recipient abroad, without operating his own production plant for the manufacture of war material in Switzerland, requires, in addition to an initial licence in terms of Article 9, a specific licence for each individual case.
2 The Federal Council may provide exceptions for certain countries.
1 Inserted by No I 2 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248; BBl 2000 3369). Amended by Annex No 1 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
1 A brokerage licence may be limited in duration and subject to conditions and requirements.
2 If exceptional circumstances so require, a brokerage licence may be suspended or revoked.
1 Anyone who on Swiss territory trades in war material with persons abroad, without operating his own production plant for the manufacture of war material in Switzerland, requires, in addition to an initial licence in terms of Article 9, a specific licence for each individual case.
1 A trading licence may be limited in duration and subject to conditions and requirements.
2 If exceptional circumstances so require, a trading licence may be suspended or revoked.
1 The import, export and transit of war material require a licence from the Confederation.
2 A transit licence is also required for deliveries to a Swiss free warehouse or customs warehouse or for deliveries from such warehouses abroad.1.
3 The Federal Council regulates the licensing requirements and the procedure for the transit of war material through the airspace.
1 Amended by Annex No I of the Customs Act of 18 March 2005, in force since 1 May 2007 (SR 631.0).
2 Inserted by No I 2 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248 257; BBl 2000 3369). Amended by Art. 3 no. 5 of the Federal Decree of 17 Dec. 2004 on the Adoption and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the EU on the Association to Schengen and Dublin, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (SR 362; AS 2008 5405 Art. 1 let. d).
3 Inserted by No I 2 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248 257; BBl 2000 3369).
4 Amended by Annex No 1 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
5 Amended by No I 4 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248 257; BBl 2000 3369).
1 As a general rule, an export licence may be granted only if it relates to a delivery to a foreign government or to an undertaking acting on behalf of a foreign government, and if a declaration is provided by that government stating that the material will not be re-exported (a non-re-export declaration).
2 A non-re-export declaration may be waived in the case of individual parts or assembly packages of war material if it is established that, once abroad, they will be integrated into a product and not re-exported unmodified, or in the case of anonymous components, that their value in comparison with the finished war material is negligible.
1 Import, export and transit licences are limited in their duration.
2 If exceptional circumstances require, they may be suspended or revoked.
1 A licence is required in order to enter into a contract for the transfer from Switzerland to a natural person or legal entity with domicile or registered office abroad of intellectual property including know-how that is essential for the manufacture or the use of war material. The same applies to entering into a contract that grants rights to such intellectual property and know-how.
that is used for the purposes of basic scientific research.
is not subject to the foregoing licensing requirement.
3 The Federal Council may provide for exemptions for certain countries.
A licence is not granted if the recipient has his registered office or domicile in a country to which the export of the relevant war material is prohibited.
The manufacture, brokerage, export and transit of war material for recipients abroad shall be authorised if this is not contrary to international law, international obligations, and the principles of Swiss foreign policy.
The export of replacement parts for war material whose export has been authorised shall also be authorised if no exceptional circumstances have arisen in the intervening period that would require the revocation of the original licence.
The import of war material shall be authorised if it is not contrary to international law or national interests.
The granting of licences is not permitted if enforcement measures in terms of the Embargo Act of 22 March 20022 have been ordered.
1 Amended by Art. 17 No 1 of the Embargo Act of 22 March 2002, in force since 1 Jan. 2003 (SR 946.231).
The Federal Council shall issue regulations on the control of the manufacture, trade, brokerage, import, export and transit of war material as well as the transfer of intellectual property, including know-how, or the granting of rights thereto, to the extent that these relate to war material.
The holder of a licence under this Act or the proprietor and the staff of the corresponding company are obliged to provide the control authorities with all the information and documents required for appropriate controls to be carried out.
1 The control authorities have the right to enter and inspect the business premises of persons obliged to provide information during normal working hours without prior notice and to examine the relevant documents. They shall confiscate incriminating material. In the event of suspicion of an offence, more rigorous provisions of procedural law are reserved.
3 They may process personal data in accordance with the objectives of this Act. Particularly sensitive personal data may be processed only where it relates to administrative or criminal proceedings and sanctions. Additional particularly sensitive personal data may be processed only if this is indispensable for handling the individual case.
4 They are obliged to preserve professional secrecy and to take all the precautionary measures required in their field to prevent industrial espionage.
1 Amended by No I 7 of the Ordinance of 4 Dec. 2009 on the Amendment of Legislation due to the establishment of the Federal Intelligence Service, in force since 1 Jan. 2010 (AS 2009 6921).
1 The Federal Council shall designate the responsible agencies and regulate the procedural details. Border controls are the responsibility of the customs authorities.
2 The Federal Council shall decide on applications that are of substantial importance to foreign or security policy. In addition, the provisions of the Federal Act on Administrative Procedure of 20 December 19681 govern the procedure.
3 The procedure for appeals against orders or rulings made in terms of this Act is governed by the general provisions on federal administrative procedure.
1 The Federal Council shall designate a Central Office for combating illegal activities in connection with war material.
1 Amended by No I 6 of the Ordinance of 12 Dec. 2008 on the Amendment of Statutory Provisions due to the Transfer of the Intelligence Section of the Service for Analysis and Prevention to the DDPS, in force since 1 Jan. 2009 (AS 2008 6261).
The licences provided for by this Act Fees are subject to fees. The Federal Council stipulates the rates.
The Federal Council shall report to the Control Committees of the Federal Parliament on the details relating to the export of war material.
the participation in financial dealings relating to an illegal war material transaction or the procurement funding for such a transaction as an intermediary.
4 In the case of unauthorised import or transit, an act committed abroad is also a criminal offence.
1 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
2 Amended by Annex No I of the Customs Act of 18 March 2005, in force since 1 May 2007 (SR 631.0).
4 Amended by No I of the Federal Act of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
assisting in the commission of an act listed under letter a.
the offender is Swiss or is domiciled in Switzerland.
5 Inserted by No I of the Federal Act of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
2 A custodial sentence may be combined with a monetary penalty.
3 If the act is committed through negligence, the penalty is a custodial sentence not exceeding one year or a monetary penalty.
1 Any person who wilfully fails to comply with the prohibition of financing under Articles 8b or 8c without being able to claim an exemption under Article 7 paragraph 2, Article 8 paragraph 2 or Article 8a paragraph 3is liable to a custodial sentence not exceeding five years or to a monetary penalty.
3 A person who merely accepts the possibility of an offence against the prohibition of financing under Articles 8b or 8c does not commit an offence.
the violation in any other way of a provision of this Act or of an implementing regulation, the contravention of which is declared to be an offence, or the failure to comply with an order issued with notice of the applicability of the penalties in terms of this Article, unless the criminal conduct constitutes a different offence.
2 Attempts and complicity are offences.
3 If the act is committed through negligence, the penalty is a fine of up to 40 000 francs.
In relation to offences in commercial enterprises, Article 6 of the Federal Act of 22 March 19741 on Administrative Criminal Law applies.
The court shall order the confiscation of the war material concerned, irrespective of the criminal liability of any person, if and to the extent that no guarantee of its lawful continued use is offered. The confiscated war material, together with any proceeds of sale, becomes the property of the Confederation subject to the reservation of the Federal Act of 19 March 20042 on the Division of Confiscated Assets.
1 Amended by Annex No 3 of the Federal Act of 19 March 2004 on the Division of Confiscated Assets, in force since 1 Aug. 2004 (SR 312.4).
Confiscated assets or rights to compensation become the property of the Confederation subject to the reservation of the Federal Act of 19 March 20042 on the Division of Confiscated Assets.
1 The prosecution and judgement of offences are subject to federal jurisdiction.
2 The federal and cantonal licensing and control authorities, the cantonal and communal police and the customs authorities are obliged to report offences against this Act that they detect or which come to their knowledge in the course of their duties to the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland.
The responsible federal authorities and the cantonal and communal police may disclose data to each other and to the relevant supervisory authorities insofar as this is required for the enforcement of this Act.
the foreign authorities or international organisations or agencies are bound by professional secrecy or corresponding duties of confidentiality and guarantee protection from industrial espionage in their field of activity.
financial dealings relating to the transaction.
will be used in judicial criminal proceedings only if it has been obtained in accordance with the provisions on international mutual assistance.
4 They may also disclose the data to international organisations or agencies subject to the requirements of paragraph 3, whereby the requirement of a reciprocal right may be waived.
5 The provisions on international mutual assistance in criminal matters remain reserved.
1 The Federal Council shall issue the implementation regulations.
The Federal Act of 30 June 19721 on War Material is repealed.
1 The amendments may be consulted under AS 1998 794.
2 Contracts on the transfer of intellectual property, including know-how, or the granting of rights thereto that were entered into prior to this Act coming into force do not require a licence under this Act.
1 Repealed by No II 23 of the Federal Act of 20 March 2008 on the Formal Revision of Federal Legislation, with effect from 1 Aug. 2008 (AS 2008 3437 3452; BBl 2007 6121).
2 The Federal Council shall determine the date on which this Act comes into force; until federal legislation on weapons comes into force, it may refrain from bringing individual provisions into force.
3 It shall regulate trade in propellant powder that is intended for civilian purposes until related statutory provisions have come into force.

References: Art. 2
 Art. 2
 Art. 3
 Art. 1
 Art. 2
 Art. 17