What are the legal requirements for a Swiss company to hire a lobbying firm and engage with federal officials?

Hello, and thank you for your message. Under Swiss law, anyone engaging in lobbying activities aimed at influencing federal environmental regulations must register as a lobbyist in the official electronic register. This includes both individual consultants and firms representing third parties. The registration should include your name or company, contact information, the domain of your intervention, and the identity of your client if applicable. The register is publicly accessible and must be updated annually to ensure transparency.​

Regarding reporting, there is no specific legal obligation to report each meeting with public officials during consultations at the federal level, but all lobbying activities and their subjects must be declared in the register. This ensures transparency even if direct reporting of individual meetings is not required. At the cantonal level, some cantons may have additional or more detailed requirements, so it is important to check local regulations as well.​

If there is non-compliance with the registration or disclosure requirements, administrative fines can be imposed, ranging from about CHF 20,000 to CHF 100,000 depending on the nature and severity of the violation. In some cases, willful non-compliance or providing false information may also incur criminal penalties. There are no general restrictions on contact with officials during consultation periods, but all lobbying must be conducted ethically and transparently, respecting the integrity of the consultation process.​

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