Insurance Oversight Act (IOA)
The IOA governs the supervision of insurance companies and brokers by the federal government. Its main purpose is to protect insured persons, in line with their need for protection, from the risk of insolvency on the part of insurance companies and from abuses.
On 1 January 2024, the revised IOA and the implementing provisions in the Insurance Oversight Ordinance (ISO) came into force. Among other things, a customer protection-based supervisory system was introduced and a legal basis created to enable an insurance company to be restructured in the event of insolvency instead of being allowed to go bankrupt. In addition, the provisions on group supervision, insurance intermediary law and insurance distribution were revised.
The Federal Council wants to strengthen Switzerland's position as a reinsurance location and therefore adopted the dispatch on amending the Insurance Oversight Act on 5 December 2025.
Media
05.12.2025
Federal Council adopts dispatch on amending Insurance Oversight Act
During its meeting on 5 December 2025, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on amending the Insurance Oversight Act. With this proposal, the Federal Council wishes to strengthen Switzerland as a reinsurance location.
21.05.2025
Federal Council launches consultation on amending insurance oversight law
The Federal Council wishes to strengthen Switzerland as a reinsurance location. To this end, it initiated a consultation on amending insurance oversight law during its meeting on 21 May 2025.
02.06.2023
Federal Council strengthens Switzerland as a location for insurance
The Federal Council is committed to making Switzerland a competitive and innovative location for insurance. During its meeting on 2 June 2023, it approved the amendments to the Insurance Oversight Ordinance (IOO) with regard to private insurance companies, and brought both the revised Ordinance and the revised Insurance Oversight Act (IOA) into force with effect from 1 January 2024.