Private security services abroad: no further need for action

On 12 February 2020, the Federal Council tasked the Federal Departments of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) with examining the necessity for amending the PSSA. The working group concluded that the problems relating to consistency between the PSSA and export control legislation that had originally been identified had largely been resolved with the amended Ordinance on Private Security Services (OPSA), which came into effect on 1 January 2021. The Federal Council has therefore decided not to amend the PSSA at this time and has tasked the departments involved to re-evaluate the legal basis in three years based on the experience of applying the new OPSA.

The PSSA, which has been in force since 2015, stipulates a prior declaration requirement for private security services abroad. The purpose of the act is to safeguard the internal and external security of Switzerland, to realise Switzerland's foreign policy objectives, to preserve Swiss neutrality and to ensure compliance with international law.

Report PSSA (DE)(pdf, 493kb)

Address for enquiries:

For further information:
FDFA Communication
Tel. +41 58 462 31 53
kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

The Federal Council
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs