Integrity of the financial centre

Switzerland attaches great importance to a healthy financial centre. Over the past few decades, Switzerland has gradually established a robust and comprehensive system for combating money laundering and terrorist financing that combines preventive measures with repressive ones.

Switzerland actively participates internationally in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. In particular, it plays an active part in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

The FATF member states' compliance with the FATF standards is regularly evaluated. The FATF evaluated Switzerland for the fourth time in 2016. Although it acknowledged the overall good quality of the Swiss system, it identified certain shortcomings and made corresponding recommendations.

Mutual Evaluation Report of Switzerland 2016

Parliament adopted the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act on 19 March 2021. The aim of this revision is to implement some of the most important country report recommendations and to improve Switzerland's defence mechanism for money laundering and terrorist financing.

The revision provides for measures for financial intermediaries in the areas of beneficial ownership, updating of client data and reports on suspected money laundering. Moreover, it promotes the transparency of associations and strengthens supervision and controls in the area of precious metals. The revised Anti-Money Laundering Act will enter into force on 1 January 2023.

Modification of the Anti-Money Laundering Act

In addition to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Swiss Civil Code, the Swiss Code of Obligations, the Criminal Code, the Precious Metals Control Act and the Financial Market Supervision Act also need to be amended in order to implement the measures.

Coordinating group

The Federal Council additionally established the interdepartmental coordinating group on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism (CGMF) in 2013. In June 2015, the CGMF published the first and in Octobre 2021 the second report on the national assessment of the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing (NRA):

1st National report on risks of money laundering and terrorist financing (June 2015)

2nd National report on risks of money laundering and terrorist financing (Octobre 2021)

The CGMF has also published several analyses of money laundering and terrorist financing risks in various areas (see below: "Further information" > "Reports"). Further analytical reports are being prepared.