The case

A series of new laws and regulatory changes came into force across Switzerland at the beginning of 2026, affecting key areas such as transport, energy, healthcare, criminal law, construction as well as taxation.

The commentary

In the transport sector, a new federal law on air passenger data now obliges airlines to transmit passenger information to Swiss authorities for all international flights to and from Switzerland. This measure is intended to enhance security and strengthen cross-border cooperation.

In the energy sector, households supplied under the basic electricity tariff benefit from an average price reduction of around 4 % in 2026. The average electricity price will fall to approximately CHF 0.277/kWh, resulting in savings of about CHF 58 per year for the average household.

Major changes have also been introduced in healthcare. After more than two decades, the Tarmed medical tariff system has been replaced by Tardoc, along with new outpatient flat-rate tariffs. According to the authorities, the new system reflects modern medical practice better and is designed to improve outpatient care for patients, insurers and healthcare providers. In addition to this, health insurance now covers the costs of certain vaccines, including standard immunisations against diphtheria, tetanus and meningococcal disease.

In criminal law, stalking or obsessive harassment is considered a criminal offence since 1 January 2026. Offenders may face fines or imprisonment, though prosecution requires a criminal complaint to be filed by the victim.

Changes to construction law provide increased protection for property owners and buyers as the deadline for reporting construction defects has been extended from the previously 7 days to 60 days. Contracts may no longer shorten this reporting period or exclude the right to repairs.

Several adjustments have also been made in taxation and consumer credits. The interest rate on voluntary advance payments of federal direct taxes has been reduced from 1.25 % to 0.75 %. Interest rates for late payments, refunds as well as provisional tax liabilities have also been lowered, from 4.75 % to 4.5 %. As of 1 January, the maximum interest rate for cash loans has been reduced from 11 % to 10 %, while the cap on overdraft facilities, including credit cards, has been lowered from 13 % to 12 %.

Further changes are scheduled for later in the year, e.g. 13th monthly payment under the old-age pension system is set to be paid as of December 2026, and a nationwide emergency hotline is due to be launched on 1 May 2026.