Executive Summary

On June 24, 2026, the Federal Council opened a partial revision of the Postal Act (PG) and the Postal Organization Act (POG) for public consultation. The revision aims to adapt Swiss Post to changing market conditions and to legally regulate its activities outside of universal service obligations. Mail volumes have declined by one-third over ten years; a further decline of 30 percent is expected by 2030. The reform is intended to enshrine the digital letter in law, clarify the corporate purpose, and introduce an approval procedure for major equity acquisitions. The consultation runs until October 15, 2026.

Persons

Topics

  • Postal legislation and regulation
  • Digitalization and business model adaptation
  • Universal service and supplementary activities
  • Corporate oversight

Clarus Lead

The postal law revision responds to growing parliamentary and business criticism of Swiss Post's expansion strategy outside its core functions. While traditional letter mail has collapsed—cash deposits have declined by two-thirds—Post has aggressively expanded into digital services and other business sectors. The new regulation establishes binding limits for the first time: supplementary activities must have a close connection to universal service obligations and be of subordinate importance. The introduction of a PostCom approval requirement for majority shareholding acquisitions signals a shift from expansion freedom to regulated focus.

Detailed Summary

Digitalization has fundamentally shifted demand patterns. Mail volumes have declined by one-third over ten years; cash deposits at counters have fallen by two-thirds. Swiss Post forecasts an additional decline in mail of approximately 30 percent by 2030 and a halving of cash deposits. In response, Post expanded its business activities outside of universal service obligations—a development that has increasingly met with resistance in parliament and the business community.

The revision clarifies corporate purpose through two mechanisms: First, the digital letter is legally enshrined as part of universal service obligations (already in the ordinance since April 1, 2026). Second, it defines which supplementary activities are permissible—they must have a close connection to the main activity and be of subordinate importance. Digital services are legally defined for the first time.

Central to the revision is the introduction of an approval procedure by PostCom for economically significant equity acquisitions. Larger majority shareholding acquisitions will require approval from the Federal Postal Commission. This is intended to ensure that acquisitions remain within the corporate purpose. In parallel, the Federal Council has defined new strategic objectives for 2025–2028: Swiss Post should focus on integrating existing cooperations, achieve a balanced result in the Digital Services segment by 2028, and enter into new majority shareholdings only under strict conditions.

Key Statements

  • The postal law revision establishes legal limits for business activities outside of universal service obligations for the first time
  • The digital letter is legally incorporated into universal service obligations; traditional letter mail shrinks by one-third per decade
  • PostCom gains approval authority for major equity acquisitions to control expansion drift
  • Supplementary activities must have a close connection to core functions and be of subordinate importance

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: Is the forecast of a 30 percent decline in mail by 2030 based on concrete demand models or trend extrapolation? What uncertainty ranges are assumed?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: Which interest groups (parliament, business, unions) have driven criticism of Post's expansion strategy? Do individual sectors benefit from stricter limits?

  3. Causality: Is expansion outside universal service obligations the cause of criticism or a consequence of mail volume decline? Would Swiss Post have survived economically without diversification?

  4. Feasibility: How concrete are the criteria of "close connection" and "subordinate importance"? Is there a risk of legal uncertainty or delays in PostCom approvals?

  5. Regulatory Effect: Does the approval requirement lead to delays in sensible acquisitions or does it primarily protect established competitors?

  6. Universal Service: Will the legal entrenchment of the digital letter increase acceptance, or will usage remain marginal as long as paper mail is cheaper?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Federal Council – Consultation on Partial Revision of the Postal Act and Postal Organization Act – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/vusI2VqgtU8qnlNRR83Sa

Verification Status: ✓ 24.06.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 24.06.2026