Prevent misuse of explosive material
The Federal Office of Police recently organized a round table on the regulation of explosives precursors in Switzerland. Proposals were presented to the industries concerned as to how the misuse of precursors could be made more difficult in Switzerland in the future. The authority wants to work with the industry to develop pragmatic and effective measures to reduce the risks of explosives precursor misuse in Switzerland.
The recent attacks in Europe have shown that terrorists use substances found in everyday products such as fertilizers, cleaning agents for swimming pools and weedkillers to make their explosive devices. These chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide and acetone, are so-called precursors to explosives. While trade in these products is restricted for private individuals in the European Union, they are available in Switzerland without restriction and without control. There is therefore a real risk that criminals will obtain such substances in Switzerland.
The round table was fruitful
The Federal Council is aware of this risk and has instructed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to set up a group of experts under the leadership of Fedpol. Its task is to analyze the situation in Switzerland and propose measures to make access to these substances more difficult. The initial results of this analysis were presented at a round table with the industries concerned, and the feasibility of the proposed measures was discussed.
The exchange was fruitful: participants provided valuable input to find realistic, pragmatic and effective solutions. Fedpol will incorporate the results of the roundtable discussions in its report to the Federal Council. Based on this report, the Federal Council will decide on the further course of action. If it decides in favor of regulation, the industries concerned will be consulted on the legislative work and the details of implementation.
Immediate measures
Since the legislative process will take some time, immediate measures will be taken. The industries consulted have shown their openness to sensitize their members to the risks of precursors to explosives. The sales outlets can report suspicious incidents involving precursors to a reporting office at Fedpol, with the aim of detecting possible misuse at an early stage. Fedpol is working with the industries concerned to prepare information material for vendors.
The regulation of the European Union
As a result of the numerous attacks involving explosives manufactured from precursors, the European Union issued a regulation on the sale and use of precursors in 2014. The EU regulation provides for three possible measures that only affect the sale of such substances to private individuals: The sale of a product is either banned, subject to authorization or must be registered. The list of affected substances is the same everywhere, but the regulation is applied differently in the countries of the European Union, because each country prefers one of the possible measures.
Source: Federal Office of Police
