Federal Civil Protection Staff with expanded tasks

The Federal Staff for Nuclear, Biological or Chemical Incidents and Natural Hazards (BST ABCN) has been in existence since 2011 and coordinates operations in the event of Disasters and emergencies in its areas. Various events and exercises have made it clear that the operational spectrum needs to be expanded. The cantons also repeatedly called for a single operational body at the federal level for all population protection-related incidents.

Extended range of applications

Now the Federal Council has expanded the tasks of the Federal Staff. In the future, the scope of tasks will include hazards such as earthquakes, pandemics, nuclear accidents, but also a major power outage or a power shortage situation. To this end, the Federal Council has approved a total revision of the corresponding ordinance and put it into force on April 1, 2018 (see also Explanation).

With this further development, the Federal Council is strengthening cooperation with the cantons, the operators of critical infrastructures and the federal authorities. The aim is to better protect the population and prevent or limit damage. Due to the expanded scope of tasks, the staff is now called the Federal Civil Protection Staff (BSTB).

Cantonal management bodies integrated

Further changes concern the structure and composition: In particular, the representation of the cantons will be upgraded by integrating the cantonal management bodies (KFO) in addition to the intergovernmental conferences. Cooperation with operators of critical infrastructures will also be improved; these can be consulted if necessary. The National Emergency Operations Center at the Federal Office for Civil Protection forms the permanent core of a newly created deployment and support element. No new financial obligations arise for the organizational units involved as a result of the revision of the ordinance.

Press release Bundesrat