More caution when exporting weapons to a private company
Published: Monday, Dec 16th 2024, 21:10
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The federal government is taking a more cautious approach to approving the re-export of war material to a foreign private company. Following a case that became known in connection with a Polish company, a written declaration from the recipient is now required.
The case was uncovered in November 2023. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) then carried out investigations. Based on this, it also took measures, as was revealed during question time in the National Council on Monday.
According to a Seco report published by SRF Investigativ in November, which was also made available to the Keystone-SDA news agency, 645,000 rounds of sniper ammunition from Swiss P Defence were allegedly sent to Ukraine via a Polish company in July 2023. It was not clear whether they were used there.
This re-export violates the embargo on military equipment and Switzerland's principle of not supplying weapons to countries at war. Seco had announced that exports to the Polish company in question were no longer permitted until further notice.
According to Seco, Swiss P Defence, which was unaware of the transfer prior to the delivery, agreed measures to minimize the risk. The Polish company was only allowed to resell the ammunition in Poland to state authorities, private security companies, weapons manufacturers or sports organizations.
Written declaration
Seco took measures as a result of this investigation. Applications for the export of small arms and related ammunition require a written declaration from the private recipient, such as an arms dealer, trader or distributor.
Recipients must confirm that the purchased weapons and ammunition will only be resold on the territory of the country in which they are established or to final recipients in explicitly named third countries. This amendment is intended to strengthen the guarantees and reduce the risk of diversion if the final recipient is a private company, as the Federal Council explained.
According to the War Material Act, a non-re-export declaration is required to authorize the export to a foreign government or to a company working for it. However, no such declaration is required for exports to foreign private recipients.
©Keystone/SDA
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