Sanctions database

Exceptions apply for the official activities of diplomatic or consular representations of Switzerland or its partners in Russia or international organisations that enjoy immunity under international law or if such goods are intended for the personal use of staff of such representations and organisations.
On 31 August, Switzerland added exclusions to the export ban on luxury goods by allowing articles of jewellery, articles of goldsmiths’ or silversmiths’ wares and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal, intended for personal use of natural persons leaving Switzerland or of immediate family members travelling with them, owned by those persons and not intended for sale.
SECO may grant exceptions to the prohibition specified in paragraph 1 for the supply or export of cultural property to Russian if the items are on loan as part of official cultural cooperation with Russia.

This ban does not apply to goods and services that are necessary for the official activities of diplomatic or consular representations of Switzerland or its partners in Russia or of international organisations that enjoy immunities in accordance with international law SECO may, after consultation with the competent agencies of the FDFA and the FDF, authorize exemptions from this ban for humanitarian purposes

Exceptions apply for the official activities of diplomatic or consular representations of Switzerland or its partners in Russia or international organisations that enjoy immunity under international law or if such goods are intended for the personal use of staff of such representations and organisations.
On 31 August, Switzerland added exclusions to the export ban on luxury goods by allowing articles of jewellery, articles of goldsmiths’ or silversmiths’ wares and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal, intended for personal use of natural persons leaving Switzerland or of immediate family members travelling with them, owned by those persons and not intended for sale.
SECO may grant exceptions to the prohibition specified in paragraph 1 for the supply or export of cultural property to Russian if the items are on loan as part of official cultural cooperation with Russia (added 27.04.2022)

The prohibitions do not apply where the goods and services are intended for non-military purposes, to non-military end users, for humanitarian purposes, public health emergencies, the urgent prevention or mitigation of an event that is likely to have serious and substantial effect on human health and the environment or for the management of natural disasters.
SECO may grant further exceptions if the goods and technology or the related technical or financial assistance are intended for maritime security.

After consultation with the responsible departments of the FDFA and the FDF, SECO may now grant exceptions to the prohibition to terminate transactions, contracts or other agreements, including the corresponding banking relationships, no later than by 4 May 2022, which were concluded with the corresponding banks, companies or organisations before 6 PM on 4 March 2022,

SECO may authorize such activities if they are necessary for ensuring critical energy supply within Switzerland and the EEA as well as transport of fossil fuels from or through Russia into Switzerland and the EEA or they exclusively concern an entity operating in the energy sector in Russia owned by an entity which is incorporated or constituted under the law of Switzerland or an EEA member state,

SECO may authorize such activities if they are necessary for ensuring critical energy supply within Switzerland and the EEA as well as transport of fossil fuels from or through Russia into Switzerland and the EEA or they exclusively concern an entity operating in the energy sector in Russia owned by an entity which is incorporated or constituted under the law of Switzerland or an EEA member state,

Exceptions to the above prohibition include supply (and relating assistance) of goods and technology necessary for:
– the transport of natural gas and petroleum, including refined petroleum products, from or through Russia to Switzerland or the EEA (amended 27.04.2022); or
– the urgent prevention or mitigation of an event likely to have a serious and significant impact on human health and safety or the environment,
Moreover, insurance and retroactive insurance coverage in favour of a company founded or registered under Swiss law or the law of an EEA member state in relation to its activities outside the Russian energy sector are excluded from the prohibition,
Additionally, after consultation with the competent offices of the FDFA and, where financial services or energy supply are concerned, the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) or the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), SECO may grant licenses in the event the supply of goods and services is necessary to secure the energy supply of Switzerland or an EEA member state in the event of an imminent or existing serious shortage, or the goods or services are intended for the exclusive use of organisations owned or controlled in whole or in part by an organisation incorporated or registered under Swiss law or the law of an EEA member state.