News

Together with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) and other authorities, Swissmedic dealt with a total of 6,647 illegal imports of medicinal products in 2025. While the number of consignments secured has remained stable over several years, there are noticeable shifts in the types of products imported and the countries of origin. The results underline the continued risks of illegal imports of medicinal products for public health.

According to the early estimate of Switzerland's quarterly real GDP approximately 45 days after the quarter end ('GDP flash'), Swiss economic output is estimated to have grown by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025.[1] Growth in the services sector was muted, while the industrial sector stagnated. According to provisional results, the Swiss economy grew by 1.4% in 2025 overall, following 1.2% the previous year.1 This is well below Switzerland’s average economic growth (1.8% since 1981). The challenging international environment slowed the export‑oriented industry. By contrast, the services sector grew at an above‑average rate by historical standards. Note: For the initial results for 2025 overall, please see the attached article ‘Switzerland's GDP 2025: +1.4%, GDP per capita: +0.5%; GDP per capita has risen by 4.8% since 2019’ from the spring 2026 edition of Konjunkturtendenzen (currently only available in German). The flash estimate is based on early information available on the production components of GDP. Estimates are used where values are not yet available. The result may therefore change after the complete and updated source data become available. The regular release of quarterly GDP figures, including details on production, expenditure and income as well as updated calculations for the previous quarters, will be published on 27 February 2026.[1] Adjusted for seasonal/calendar effects and sporting events

In 2024, 4.9% of children aged under 16 in Switzerland were affected by at least three child-specific deprivations. This figure is one of the lowest in Europe. Children in low-income and single-parent households were disproportionately affected, with 14% of children in these groups experiencing deprivation. The poverty rate among Switzerland's total population was 8.4%. These are some of the findings from the Deprivation and Children's Health module of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

The Federal Tax Administration has updated the course listings and bonus shares 2025.

In response to the critical humanitarian situation caused by Cyclone Gezani in Madagascar, Switzerland will be sending a team of eight experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) as well as equipment. The deployment comes as the island faces its second cyclone in the space of two weeks.

President Guy Parmelin will represent Switzerland at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week. The summit serves as a forum for discussions on the implementation and use of AI. During his visit to the event on Thursday, 19 February, Mr Parmelin will meet with heads of state and government and hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The amending protocol that regulates the taxation of home office for frontier workers for the long term entered into force on 9 February 2026 following the completion of the approval process in Switzerland and Italy.

The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) has updated its price statistics. Since the beginning of 2026, the updated structures better reflect current market trends, building on the previous revision carried out in 2020. By the end of 2026, the statistics will include new data on changes in property ownership. A property price index for multi-family houses will be published at the end of 2027.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.1% in January 2026 compared with the previous month to 99.9 points (December 2025 = 100). Inflation was +0.1% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, was in Milan on 11 and 12 February 2026 for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. He met with the president of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, and Milan's mayor, Giuseppe Sala. Talks focused on bilateral relations, particularly with the Lombardy region, the tragedy in Crans-Montana, cross-border cooperation and the potential of the 2026 Winter Olympics to bring benefits to the region.

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is awarding PSI Founder Fellowships to Mohsen Sadr and Mohammadhossein Montazerian. The fellowships will support two business ideas based on PSI technologies: an AI-based platform for the development of fusion energy and aerospace technologies, and a novel technology for thin-film solid-state batteries for compact energy storage.

Federal Councillors Martin Pfister, Ignazio Cassis and Beat Jans will attend the Munich Security Conference (MSC 26) from 13 to 15 February. In a rapidly changing security environment, this conference offers an opportunity for high-level discussions on how to strengthen Europe's security. It also provides a platform for promoting values such as peace and the rule of law.