War Material Act (WMA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 9 Subject matter
1 Anyone who on Swiss territory: a. wishes to manufacture war materiel; b. wishes to trade in war materiel for his own account or for the account of another, or to broker war materiel on a professional basis for recipients abroad, irrespective of the location of the war materiel [tab] requires an initial licence. 2 No initial licence is required by those who: a. supply as sub-contractors companies in Switzerland that hold an initial licence; b. execute orders from the Swiss government in respect of war materiel for the Swiss armed forces; c. manufacture, trade in, or acts as a professional broker outside Switzerland for firearms under the legislation on weapons, their components or accessories or their munitions or munitions components and who therefore holds a licence to trade arms under the legislation on weapons; d. manufactures or trades in Switzerland in explosives, pyrotechnic devices or propellant powder covered by the legislation on explosives and who therefore holds a licence
Para. 2 let. c — Amended by Annex No 1 of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713). Para. 2 let. d — Amended by No I 4 of the Federal Act of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Arms, War Materiel, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248; BBl 2000 3369).
Art. 10 Requirements
1 The initial licence is granted to natural or legal persons if: a. the applicant offers the required guarantee for the proper conduct of their business affairs; and b. the intended activity is not contrary the national interest. 2 If the applicant also requires authorisation in terms of the federal or cantonal legislation on weapons for his activities, the initial licence is granted only if authorisation under the legislation on weapons has been granted.
Art. 11 Scope
1 The initial licence is non-assignable and applies only to the war materiel mentioned therein. It may be of limited duration and subject to conditions and requirements. 2 It may be revoked completely or in part if the requirements for its grant are no longer fulfilled. 3 It does not replace authorisations that must be obtained in terms of other regulations under federal or cantonal law.