About us
The National Economic Supply organisation (NES) combines the skills, expertise and capabilities of the private sector and public authorities, with the aim of ensuring national supply of essential goods and services.
Topics
Profile
The National Economic Supply organisation (NES) consists of 250 experts drawn from the private sector and public authorities, alongside the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES). NES measures are designed to avert or manage severe shortages of essential goods and services. The NES is headed by the Delegate for National Economic Supply, who also serves as the director of FONES.
Organisation
The Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES) is the coordination centre for the various actors involved in ensuring Switzerland's economic supply. It coordinates efforts to prepare and implement appropriate measures in the event of shortages. The FONES also monitors compulsory stockpiling. During a shortage, it plays a key role in communicating measures to business and the general public. In addition to the Federal Office for National Economic Supply, the actors in the national economic supply include the militia cadre, the cantonal delegates, other federal organs and the armed forces.
Legal mandate & reform
Ensuring that the country is provided with essential goods and services is primarily the responsibility of the private sector. However, Article 102 of the Federal Constitution assigns a supply mandate to the Confederation in certain circumstances, including serious shortages that the private sector cannot remedy on its own. This mandate is implemented through the National Economic Supply Act (NESA), which confers wide-ranging powers on the Federal Council. The National Economic Supply system (NES), a partnership between the state and the private sector, is responsible for preparing and implementing measures to combat shortages. To introduce improvements to the NES, the law, rules of procedure and strategy are being revised as part of a reform.