Consumer Information Act (ConsumIA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only, has no legal force and may not be relied on in legal proceedings.
Art. 5 Principles
1 The Confederation may grant financial assistance to consumer organisations whose activities are of nationwide importance and which, in accordance with their articles of association, are devoted exclusively to consumer protection. The financial assistance may not exceed 50 per cent of the eligible costs, within the limits of the approved credits, of: a. providing objective and accurate information on printed or in electronic media; b. conducting comparison tests on the essential and clearly ascertainable characteristics of goods and on the essential content of services; c. negotiating agreements on declarations. 2 The Confederation may also grant financial assistance under paragraph 1 letter a to other organisations whose activities are of national importance and which, in accordance with their articles of association, are devoted to consumer protection.
Art. 6 Financial assistance for conducting comparison tests
1 The Confederation shall grant financial assistance for conducting comparison tests only if the consumer organisation in all its testing activities: a. bases its selection of the test subjects and the conduct of the tests on the consumers’ need for information; b. conducts the tests in accordance with scientific principles; c. ensures that the tests are conducted in a technically competent, professional and impartial manner; d. grants the suppliers concerned a right of reply. 2 The competent federal authority shall ensure the coordination of the test activities of consumer organisations seeking financial assistance.
Art. 7 Independence in conducting tests
Any organisation that receives financial assistance for conducting comparison tests in accordance with Article 5 paragraph 1 letter b must be sufficiently independent to guarantee the objective conduct of the tests.