Unternavigation

Range of compulsory stocks

The range of compulsory stocks of Switzerland covers goods in four categories: foodstuffs, energy, therapeutic products and industry. You can find further information in the information box below.

Compulsory stocks of foodstuffs

Compulsory stocks of food include foods that can be consumed directly, such as sugar, rice and cooking oils, and products that must be processed before consumption, such as bread cereals. Factors of production, such as fertiliser and animal feed, are also stockpiled. The quantities of stockpiled goods must cover the average demand of the Swiss population for a period of three to four months.

Item	Quantity	Minimum requirement	Type of stockpiling
Sugar	55'000 t	3 months	Compulsory
Rice	16'400 t	4 months	Compulsory
Cooking oils and fats	35'000 t	4 months	Compulsory
Coffee	18'750 t	3 months	Compulsory
Bread wheat	160'000 t	4 months	Compulsory
Durum wheat	23'000 t	4 months	Compulsory
Dual-purpose wheat	140'000 t	3 months	Compulsory
Protein sources for feedstuffs	93'000 t	2 months	Compulsory
Nitrogen fertiliser	17'000 t	1/3 of the growing season	Compulsory

Compulsory stocks of energy

Mineral oil, natural gas and electricity take precedence when securing energy supplies. Quantities of motor fuels, diesel and heating oils must cover the average demand of the Swiss population for a period of four-and-a-half months; aviation fuel for a period of three months.

Item	Quantity	Minimum requirement	Type of stockpiling
Petrol	1'178'000 m³	4½ months	Compulsory
Diesel	1'260'000 m³	4½ months	Compulsory
Aviation fuel	495'000 m³	3 months	Compulsory
Extra-light heating oil	1'057'000 m³	4½ months	Compulsory
Extra-light heating oil as a gas substitute	380'000 m³	4½ months	Compulsory
Uranium fuel elements	-	Reloading for two reactors	Supplementary

Compulsory stocks of therapeutic products

Anti-infectives for human use are stockpiled to cover demand for five to six months. They are used to treat all common infectious diseases. Antivirals are also stockpiled for use in the event of an influenza pandemic. Strong painkillers are kept in stock covering demand for three months, and stocks of vaccines covering demand for four months. In the veterinary sector, there is a compulsory stock of medicines for an average demand of two months.

Item	Minimum requirement	Type of stockpiling
Human anti-infectives (dosed commercial forms)	3 months	Compulsory
Human anti-infectives (active ingredients)	2-3 months	Compulsory
Veterinary anti-infectives	2 months	Compulsory
Neuraminidase inhibitors	Pandemic	Compulsory
Stong analgesics and opiates	3 months	Compulsory
Vaccines	4 months	Compulsory
Blood bag systems	3 months	Supplementary