Exporting military supplies such as arms, munitions and military equipment from Switzerland requires the approval of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco). The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) considers every application on its merits, ensuring that Switzerland meets its international obligations and that international law and the principles of Swiss foreign policy are respected. The following factors are taken into account:

• the preservation of peace
• international security
• regional stability
• respect for human rights
• Swiss development cooperation
• the attitudes of other countries.

In 2005 Switzerland exported military supplies to the value of CHF 259 million