The Swiss Federal Council has adopted the humanitarian exemption to UN sanctions regimes introduced by the Security Council in December 2022, as set out in Resolution 2664 (2022) (previous post). The exemption provides that certain categories of humanitarian actors may engage in the provision, processing or payment of funds, other financial assets, or economic resources, or the provision of goods and services necessary to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance or to support other activities that support basic human needs, without violating UN asset freezes. The Federal Council is implementing this exemption with respect to 13 of its sanctions regimes. Press Release and Ordonnance.

The Federal Council is also implementing Security Council Resolution 2615 (2021), which provides for a similar exemption specifically designed to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan (previous post).