Publications Act (PublA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 14 Languages of published texts
1 Publication is effected simultaneously in the official languages German, French and Italian. In the case of enactments, the three versions are equally binding. 2 The Federal Council may decide that texts that are published by reference in accordance with Article 13a paragraph 1 letter a and other texts in accordance with Article 13a paragraph 2 will not be published in all three official languages or in any official language if: a. the provisions contained in these texts do not directly bind the persons concerned; or b. the persons concerned use the texts only in their original language. 3 The Federal Chancellery may decide that decrees and announcements issued by the Federal Administration and by organisations and persons under public or private law in accordance with Article 13 paragraph 2 are published only in the official language of the persons concerned, provided these are solely of local significance. 4 The translation of documents related to consultation proceedings is govern
Art. 14 — Amended by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 July 2022 (AS 2015 3977; 2021 693; BBl 2013 7057). Para. 4 — SR 172.061 and 172.061.1 Para. 4 — Inserted by No III of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 April 2016 (AS 2015 3977, 2016 925; BBl 2013 7057 8875). Para. 5 — SR 441.1 Para. 5 — Inserted by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016
Art. 14a Federal Assembly enactments
1 The Federal Chancellery shall publish in the Federal Gazette and in the AS Federal Assembly enactments in the three official languages in the final version approved by the Councils. 2 In doing so, it is only authorised to add information on the deadline for requesting a referendum, the expiry of that deadline and the entry into force, to complete missing AS, BBl and SR references and to make formatting changes.
Art. 14a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 15 Authoritative version
1 For federal enactments, agreements between the Confederation and the cantons and agreements between cantons (Art. 2 and 4), the version published in the AS is authoritative. If a text is published by reference, the version to which reference is made is authoritative. 2 The version published on the publications platform is authoritative. 3 The authoritative version of international treaties and decrees under international law is determined by the provisions thereof.
Art. 15 — Amended by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 16 Printed versions
1 The texts published on the publications platform may be obtained in printed form. 2 The Federal Council shall determine the conditions by which periodical editions of texts published on the publications platform are produced and distributed in printed form. 3 It shall determine the minimum number of printed copies of the texts published in the AS and Federal Gazette that may be made available, and where they shall be deposited.
Art. 16 — Amended by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 16a Data security
The Federal Council shall determine the measures required to guarantee the authenticity, integrity and the safekeeping of texts published on the publications platform and the smooth operation of the publications platform; in doing so, it shall take account of the state of the art.
Art. 16a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 16b Data protection
1 Publications under this Act may contain personal data; in particular, they may also contain sensitive personal data in terms of Article 5 letter c of the Data Protection Act of 25 September 2020 where this is required for a publication provided for in a federal act. 2 Texts that contain sensitive personal data may not be made publicly available online for longer or contain more information than their purpose requires. 3 The Federal Council shall determine any further measures required in order to ensure the protection of sensitive personal data in online publications; in doing so, it shall take account of the state of the art.
Art. 16b — Inserted by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057). Para. 1 — SR 235.1 Para. 1 — Amended by Annex 1 No II 11 of the Data Protection Act of 25 Sept. 2020, in force since 1 Sept. 2023 (AS 2022 491; BBl 2017 6941).
Art. 17
Repealed by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, with effect from 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 18 Inspection
The following may be inspected at the Federal Chancellery and at the offices designated by the cantons: a. the content on the publications platform; and b. enactments published under the exceptional procedure that have not yet been included in the AS (Art. 7 para. 4).
Art. 18 — Amended by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 19 Fees
1 Consultation of the publications platform and inspections in terms of Article 18 are free of charge. 2 The Federal Council shall regulate the fees for the provision of printed texts and electronic data under this Act.
Art. 19 — Amended by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).
Art. 19a Third-party suppliers
The Federal Council may make third party suppliers subject to special conditions, in particular in relation to the use of data.
Art. 19a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 26 Sept. 2014, in force since 1 Jan. 2016 (AS 2015 3977; BBl 2013 7057).