War Material Act (WMA)
Amended by No I of the FA of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 7 Nuclear, biological and chemical weapons
1 It is prohibited: a. to develop, produce, broker, acquire, transfer to anyone, import, export, carry in transit, or store nuclear, biological or chemical weapons (NBC weapons) or to possess them in any other way; b. to incite anyone to carry out an act mentioned in letter a above; c. to assist anyone to carry out an act mentioned in letter a above. 2 The foregoing prohibition does not apply to acts that are intended: a. to enable the destruction of NBC weapons by the agencies responsible therefor; or b. to provide protection against the effects of NBC weapons or to combat such effects. 3 The prohibition also applies to acts carried out abroad, irrespective of the law at the place of commission, if: a. the acts violate international law agreements to which Switzerland is a party; and b. the perpetrator is Swiss or is domiciled in Switzerland.
Art. 8 Anti-personnel mines
1 It is prohibited: a. to develop, produce, broker, acquire, transfer to anyone, import, export, carry in transit, or store anti-personnel mines or to possess them in any other way; b. to incite any person to carry out an act mentioned in letter a; c. to assist in committing an act mentioned in letter a. 2 For the development of procedures in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques and for training in such procedures, the retention or transfer of a number of anti-personnel mines is permitted. The number of such mines shall not exceed the minimum number absolutely necessary for the above-mentioned purposes. 3 Anti-personnel mines are explosive devices that are placed under, on, or near the ground or any other surface and which are conceived or modified so as to explode as a result of the presence, approach, or contact of a person, and which are intended to incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons. Mines designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity o
Art. 8 — Term according to No I of the FA of 19 Dec. 2003, in force since 1 June 2004 (AS 2004 2451; BBl 2003 2196 2210). This amendment is taken into account throughout this Act. Para. 1 let. c — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the FA of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905). Para. 3 — Term in accordance with No I of the Federal Act of 19 Dec. 2003, in force since 1
Art. 8a Cluster munition
1 It is prohibited: a. to develop, produce, broker, acquire, transfer to anyone, import, export, carry in transit, or store cluster munition or to possess the same in any other way; b. to incite anyone to carry out an act mentioned in letter a above; c. to assist anyone to carry out an act mentioned in letter a above. 2 Paragraph 1 also applies to explosive bomblets that are specifically intended to be dispersed or released by dispensers affixed to an aircraft. 3 For the development of procedures for detecting, clearing, or destroying cluster munition and for training in such procedures, the retention or transfer of a quantity of cluster munition is permitted. The quantity of cluster munition retained shall not exceed the minimum quantity absolutely necessary for the above-mentioned purposes.
Art. 8a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
Art. 8b Prohibition of direct financing
1 The direct financing of the development, manufacture or acquisition of prohibited war materiel is itself prohibited. 2 Direct financing within the meaning of this Act is the direct granting of credits, loans or gifts or comparable financial advantages in order to pay or advance costs and expenditures that are associated with the development, manufacture or acquisition of prohibited war materiel.
Art. 8b — Inserted by No I of the FA of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).
Art. 8c Prohibition of indirect financing
1 The indirect financing of the development, manufacture or acquisition of prohibited war materiel is itself prohibited where the prohibition of direct financing is circumvented thereby. 2 Indirect financing within the meaning of this Act is: a. participation in companies that develop, manufacture or acquire prohibited war materiel; b. the acquisition of debt securities or other investment products issued by such companies.
Art. 8c — Inserted by No I of the FA of 16 March 2012, in force since 1 Feb. 2013 (AS 2013 295; BBl 2011 5905).