A sufficient supply of food is vital to our survival. Any interruption in the food supply is immediately perceived as a crisis by the public. The Foodstuffs Division develops measures to prevent severe shortages and to cope with shortages so as to avoid major disruption.
Measures concerning foodstuffs
Release of compulsory stocks
Facilitating imports
General sale restrictions
Food rationing
Production management
In Switzerland compulsory stocks must be kept of a number of essential goods. This means that certain sectors of the economy are required to maintain stocks of these goods as a contribution to security of supply. The Confederation supervises and subsidises the maintenance of these compulsory stocks. The essential goods concerned are: foodstuffs (certain foods and fertilisers), energy (e.g. petrol, heating oil) and therapeutic products (antibiotics, painkillers, insulin preparations). More information on this topic can be found under Strategic stockpiling.
Compulsory stocks can be released within 1 to 2 weeks, ensuring goods remain available in the case of a disruption to supply.
In the case of a supply crisis, one simple measure that can increase the supply of goods rapidly besides releasing compulsory stocks is to make it easier to import. If the supply situation in Switzerland worsens, the Federal Office for Agriculture can order changes in structural policy to make it easier to import goods.
If it is still not possible to ensure supply despite these measures, the National Economic Supply Act allows for additional increases in imports. Legislation restricting imports may also be suspended in times of crisis.
In Switzerland compulsory stocks must be kept of a number of essential goods. This means that certain sectors of the economy are required to maintain stocks of these goods as a contribution to security of supply. The Confederation supervises and subsidises the maintenance of these compulsory stocks. The essential goods concerned are: foodstuffs (certain foods and fertilisers), energy (e.g. petrol, heating oil) and therapeutic products (antibiotics, painkillers, insulin preparations). More information on this topic can be found under Stockholding.
Compulsory stocks can be released within 1 to 2 weeks, ensuring goods remain available in the case of a disruption to supply.
In the event of prolonged and serious supply crises, food rationing will be introduced to ensure that food supplies are distributed equally among the population. Rationed goods can only be purchased on presentation of a ration card.
The Confederation can intervene in domestic food production in order to optimise and increase the degree of self-sufficiency. To this end, the Confederation can encourage the production of certain products or issue regulations on the quantities to be produced or processed and prioritise or prescribe their intended use. The aim of this measure is to achieve optimum domestic production in a shortage situation and to exploit existing production and processing potential.
This measure can only be implemented after several months of lead time.
Last modification 28.11.2023
