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.

The Delegate for National Economic Supply

Roland Pfister

Roland Pfister (born 1977) has been the Delegate for National Economic Supply since 1st of October 2025.

After completing his studies in business administration at the University of St. Gallen and the University of California in 2004, he obtained a doctorate in economics from the University of St. Gallen in 2013. After working in business consulting and the financial sector, Roland Pfister worked as a scientific collaborator at the University of St. Gallen. In 2014, he took over as Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Micarna SA in Bazenheid (canton St. Gallen) and Courtepin (canton Fribourg). In 2020, he became Director of Corporate Communications for Migros Industry at the Federation of Migros Cooperatives. From 2023 to 2025, he was Deputy Head of the National Crisis Management Unit of this federation.

In addition to his military career, currently in the rank of Colonel in the General Staff, he has gained experience as a municipal councillor and school board member and is entrusted with an international teaching assignment.

As an experienced crisis manager and leadership expert from industry and the military, Roland Pfister is very familiar with the different requirements of the public and private sectors. He has extensive expertise in cross-sector communication, crisis management and solving complex problems.

Divisions of the National Economic Supply

The National Economic Supply system (NES) is a separate organisation which supports the FONES experts. It comprises representatives from business, associations and other government agencies who contribute their expertise, in a secondary capacity, across six divisions:

• Energy
• Foodstuffs
• Therapeutic products
• Logistics
• ICT
• Industry

The NES also includes a Stockpiling Section.

NES militia system

The NES comprises some 250 experts from business and government who contribute their experience and expertise in a secondary capacity (militia system). They work in six specialist divisions: Energy, Food, Therapeutic Products, Logistics, ICT, and Industry.

Cantons and the Armed Forces

The cantons and communes are important partners of the NES and are represented by experts in the specialist divisions. Actions taken by the NES can have a direct impact on the cantons' activities. The cantons also play an important role as multipliers.

The NES works closely with its cantonal delegates to ensure direct communication with the cantons regarding its measures and to involve them in the preparations at an early stage. The cantonal delegates include a representative from the Principality of Liechtenstein, which forms part of the NES under a customs treaty with Switzerland.

The NES military delegate is responsible for liaising with the Armed Forces.

Organisations for compulsory stocks

As a country with few resources, Switzerland is highly dependent on imports. It is therefore essential to maintain sufficient stocks of critical goods. To provide the country with a degree of independence, the NES has developed a system of compulsory stockpiling.

Like the NES itself, compulsory stockpiling is based on a system of government–business collaboration: the Confederation determines which critical goods must be stockpiled, in what quantities, and which companies are required to stockpile them. These compulsory stocks are not owned by the government, but by the companies that manage them.

The compulsory stock organisations are private-sector organisations responsible for ensuring that compulsory stocks are held efficiently and without competition. In addition to managing guarantee funds, they are responsible for ensuring that the necessary volumes of goods are available.

They also represent the interests of the companies holding compulsory stocks towards the federal government and act as a link between the private sector and the state.

There are five compulsory stock organisations:

• CARBURA Compulsory stock organisation of the Swiss petroleum industry
• réservesuisse Compulsory stock organisation for food and animal feed
• Agricura Compulsory stock organisation for fertilisers (nitrogen)
• Helvecura Compulsory stock organisation for therapeutic products (Website available in German and French)
• Provisiogas Compulsory stock organisation for natural gas (Website available in German and French)

International cooperation

The National Economic Supply system (NES) regularly engages with other countries and international organisations on issues relating to the security of supply. In a globalised economy with cross-border exchange of goods and services, international cooperation is essential, not only in times of crisis.

Energy

International Energy Agency (IEA): The IEA is an autonomous OECD organisation. As a founding member, Switzerland is committed to emergency preparedness and crisis response with respect to oil and natural gas stocks. The IEA monitors the efforts of member states through country reviews. The most recent review of Switzerland’s energy policy took place in 2023.

The FONES is involved in two IEA working groups: the Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ), which deals with all aspects of oil emergency preparedness, and the Standing Group on the Oil Market (SOM), which analyses the international oil market.

Further information: www.iea.org / Switzerland 2023 – IEA Analysis

Pentalateral Energy Forum: The Pentalateral Energy Forum is a voluntary cooperation between the energy ministries of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) has represented Switzerland in the forum since 2011. The committee seeks to strengthen regional energy security by facilitating cross-border cooperation in the electricity and gas markets and increasing risk tolerance. The FONES is particularly involved in regional crisis exercises, together with the other members of the Swiss delegation (SFOE, ElCom and Swissgrid).

Further information: SFOE Magazine energeia-plus - November 2024 (French, German, Italian)

Therapeutic products

Coordination and Harmonisation of the Existing Systems against Shortages of Medicines (CHESSMEN) – European Network: CHESSMEN is a joint action project that seeks to better coordinate and harmonise the existing structures of the EU Member States for monitoring, preventing and remedying supply disruptions in the pharmaceutical sector. The FONES Therapeutic Products Division is on the external Advisory Board. The panel of experts from non-EU states evaluates the project’s results based on defined criteria, such as the thoroughness and feasibility of measures, and can make recommendations.

Further information: www.ja-chessmen.eu

Foodstuffs

European Food Security Crisis preparedness and response mechanism (EFSCM): The European Commission has developed a contingency plan to ensure food supply and food security in times of crisis. The EFSCM expert group is part of this contingency plan. Its aim is to strengthen cooperation and coordinate a European response to food crises. Switzerland is represented in the group by experts from the FONES, FOAG and FSVO.

Further information: EFSCM

Swiss National FOA Committee (CNS-FAO): The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), of which Switzerland has been a member since 1946, is central to all issues concerning food security. The CNS-FAO is an advisory body to the Federal Council. The FONES participates as a guest and in this capacity can draw attention to relevant topics. In return, its Foodstuffs Division benefits from from this participation.

Further information: CNS-FAO (French, German, Italian)