Legal Basis and forms
The goods control legislation regulates the export of goods that can be used for both military and civilian purposes, otherwise known as dual-use goods (e.g. machine tools), specific military goods (e.g. military training aircraft, military simulators) and their components, as well as the handling of certain chemicals in Switzerland.
Legal Basis
On the one hand, the Goods Control Legislation complies with the requirements of the Chemical Weapons Convention; on the other hand, it transposes into national law the control measures (lists of goods) agreed within the framework of the four export control regimes.
SECO is the licensing authority for the export of dual-use goods and for specific military goods. Exporters who export goods, i.e. merchandise, technology or software (in tangible and intangible form), from the Swiss customs territory are subject to the provisions of the Goods Control Act (GCA) of 13 December 1996 and its associated ordinances.
Industrial products are classified as dual-use goods if they meet the technical control criteria set out in Annex 2 (Part 1 or Part 2) of the Goods Control Ordinance (GCO). Certain goods that have not been classified as war materiel but that have been specially designed or modified for military applications and generally have no civilian applications are classified as special military goods under Annex 3 of the GCO.
Goods covered by the annexes to the GCO are subject to a formal licence requirement under Article 3(1) GCO when exported from Switzerland, regardless of the country of destination. Goods not covered by the Annexes are subject to the authorisation requirement under Article 3(4) GCO if the exporter knows or has reason to believe that they are intended for the development, manufacture, use, transfer or deployment of NBC weapons. Pursuant to Article 3(3) GCO, an export licence is also required for goods not listed in Annex 2 or 3 but which contain components listed therein that constitute the main elements of the goods or account for more than 25 per cent of its value. Exceptions are set out in Article 4 GCO. Export applications for goods subject to authorisation must be submitted exclusively via the electronic authorisation system Elic.
Further information
Forms
Index
Related topics
Electronic licences for export control ELIC
Elic is an electronic licensing system for the submission and processing of applications relating to industrial products (Goods Control Act) and war materiel (War Materiel Act).
Classification of Industrial Goods
Information on the classification of goods and the export of firearms under the Goods Control Act.
Export Control Regimes and International Treaties
Switzerland implements the disarmament and nonproliferation treaties and is a member of the four export control regimes.
Contact
Foreign Economic Affairs Directorate
Export Controls and Sanctions / Export Controls of Industrial Goods
Holzikofenweg 36
CH - 3003 Bern
Telephone service hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM