Executive Summary

The Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications opens a consultation on June 24, 2026 regarding partial revisions of the Postal Act (PG) and the Postal Organization Act (POG). The revision of the PG introduces a mechanism for flexible adjustment of postal basic services and anchors the hybrid delivery system in law. At the same time, provisions for postal services in emergencies are revised and extended to payment transaction services. The POG is clarified to create legal certainty for digital services and business participations of the Post. The consultation period ends on October 15, 2026.

Persons

  • Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (Lead)

Topics

  • Postal Act (PG)
  • Postal Organization Act (POG)
  • Postal basic services
  • Hybrid delivery systems
  • Digital services

Clarus Lead

The revision responds to structural changes in the postal market: continuous decline in demand requires legal flexibility in basic services rather than rigid specifications. The financial stability of the basic services provider (PostFinance) is now also secured through an emergency basis. Decision-makers in cantons and municipalities gain clear rules for adjusting postal services. The expansion to payment transaction services signals that the Post should expand its role in the digital financial ecosystem – under supervision by PostCom.

Detailed Summary

The partial revision of the Postal Act addresses two central challenges: First, a flexible adjustment mechanism for postal basic services is introduced that allows performance standards to be dynamically adapted to declining demand without requiring a legislative change each time. Second, the already practiced hybrid delivery system (combination of physical and digital delivery) is for the first time anchored in law and thus legally secured.

Emergency provisions are modernized and extended for the first time to payment transaction services. At the same time, the revision creates a new legal basis for the event that PostFinance encounters financial difficulties – a preventive step given market volatility in the postal sector.

The partial revision of the Postal Organization Act aims at legal certainty in the Post's business activities. The corporate purpose is clarified to create clarity about permissible activities. Economically relevant acquisition of shareholdings by the Post must now be reviewed and approved by PostCom before contract completion – a control mechanism intended to prevent conflicts of interest and strategic missteps.

Key Messages

  • Introduction of a flexible adjustment mechanism for postal basic services instead of rigid performance specifications
  • Legal anchoring of the hybrid delivery system (physical + digital)
  • Emergency basis for PostFinance and extension to payment transaction services
  • PostCom approval requirement for economically relevant shareholding acquisitions by the Post
  • Clarification of corporate purpose for legal certainty in digital services

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What demand forecasts underpin the assumption of "progressive demand decline"? Were scenarios for demand stabilization or growth considered?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: How is it prevented that PostCom comes under pressure when approving shareholding acquisitions if PostFinance must strategically grow to remain financially stable?

  3. Causality/Alternatives: Why is the flexible adjustment mechanism chosen as a solution for demand decline instead of prioritizing investments in digital transformation or new business fields?

  4. Feasibility: How concretely is the "flexible adjustment mechanism" defined? Which authority decides on adjustments, and what co-determination rights do affected regions have?

  5. Side Effects: Could the flexibilization of basic services lead to regional disparities (strong provision in urban, weak in rural areas)?

  6. Validity of Digital Services: Are payment transaction services of the Post evaluated with the same regulatory standards as banks and fintech providers, or do competitive distortions arise?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (UVEK) – Opening of Consultation on Partial Revision of the Postal Act and Postal Organization Act – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/7-1VyU6IuVee6ejJxWeGQ

Verification Status: ✓ June 24, 2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: June 24, 2026