Sanctions: New database/search function

Bern, 27.11.2012 - The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO is expanding and modernising its information service for the implementation of international sanctions As of today, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO provides on its website information for the implementation of international sanctions in a variety of additional forms. All persons, companies and organisations affected by restrictive measures are now recorded in a uniformly structured database. The lists of people under sanction can now be accessed in XML and Excel format in addition to the previously available PDF and Word formats. There is now an additional advanced search function which makes it possible to search the complete data according to specific criteria. This new and modern information service has been set up by SECO at the long-standing request of the groups concerned. As a member of the UN, Switzerland is required to impose the sanctions decreed by the UN Security Council. Switzerland also frequently decides to implement the sanctions decided on by its most important trading partner, the EU. There are currently 20 ordinances in force in Switzerland which deal with these restrictive measures. The legal basis is provided by the Federal Act of 22 March 2002 on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Embargo Act, EmbA).