Cc-Ti-Ticino Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCTA-Lugano Commodity Trading Association, SECO-State Secretariat for economic affairs

June 11, 2024, from 16:00 to 17:30
followed by a networking aperitif

Venue: Villa Sassa Hotel, Residence & Spa, Via Tesserete 10, 6900 Lugano

Registration deadline:
Please register by Tuesday, June 4 at 12:00

Cancellation policy:
Non-members must pay the registration price if they cancel after the abovementioned registration deadline

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
By participating in this event, you consent to the transfer of your personal data (first name, last name, company).

Admission
Free of charge for Cc-Ti/LCTA members, CHF 50.- for non-members
Priority is given to the Associations’ members

Target audience
C-Level & employees in the Legal & Compliance as well as the Logistics/Import-Export Departments

Registration
On-site participation: register here


In an increasingly complex international context, the sanctions landscape is likewise growing more complex, whether in terms of how they are adopted and implemented, the number of nations affected or even the types of penalties themselves.

Switzerland has independently participated in the United Nations’ non-military sanctions program since 1990. Following its membership in the UN, our Country is now required by international law to implement non-military coercive measures adopted by the UN Security Council. On March 4, 2016, the Federal Council enacted the Ordinance on the automatic application of the UN Security Council’s sanctions lists, which gives modifications to the UN Security Council sanctions lists immediate legal effect in Switzerland. On the basis of the UN sanctions, Switzerland has instituted so-called “embargo” measures in the form of Federal Council Ordinances. As of January 1, 2003, these are based on the Federal Act on the Implementation of International Sanctions (Embargo Act, EmbA). Switzerland can also order measures in application of the sanctions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe or of its main trading partners, as it has for instance been the case with the European Union in recent measures regarding Belarus or the situation in Ukraine.

Sanctions can be of various types: related to goods (e.g. prohibitions on providing armament and related material, dual-use goods and/or equipment, technology and software for inspection purposes), financial (blocking of assets and economic resources, prohibitions on making assets available, mandatory declarations for blocked values), travel, and so on.

With the support and involvement of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), we will examine the Swiss sanctions landscape, with a focus on the complex package of sanctions against Russia, while also emphasizing obligations and responsibilities for businesses.

Program

16:00-16:10 | Introduction and moderation
Monica Zurfluh, Head of International Trade, Cc-Ti | Secretary General, LCTA

16:10-17:10 | Swiss sanctions
Rebekka Strässle, Head of Sanctions Division, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

17:10-17:30 | Q&A

17:30-18:30 | Networking apéro


LCTA-Lugano Commodity Trading Association, Intertek, focusright

April 17, 2024, from 15:30 to 17:00
followed by a networking aperitif

Venue: Chamber of commerce and industry of Canton Ticino, Corso Elvezia 16, 6900 Lugano – Gildo Papa Room (6th floor)

Notice: Registration is required by Friday, April 12, 2024 at 12:00pm.
Cancellation policy: Non-members must pay the registration price if they cancel after the aforementioned registration deadline.

Admission
Free of charge for LCTA members, CHF 75.- for non-members
Priority is given to association members

Target audience
CEO, CFO, ESG Teams, Supply Chain Teams, Legal & Compliance, General Manager/Head of Operations

Registration
On-site participation: register here


The government of Switzerland has recently implemented new due diligence requirements for Swiss companies to better protect people and the environment both at home and abroad. The legislation includes new reporting requirements on “non-financial matters”, in the areas of environment, social responsibility, and human rights (Ordinance on Climate Disclosure), which are based on the existing European Union Directive 2014/95/EU (Non-Financial Reporting Directive); and new due diligence and reporting obligations with respect to conflict minerals and to prevent child labour throughout the supply chain (DDTrO).

In turn, the European Union has stalled the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), which would require EU and non-EU companies to carefully manage social and environmental impacts throughout their entire supply chain, including direct and indirect suppliers, their own operations, and their products and services. At the moment of publishing this event, it is unknown what will happen next, and if there will still be a vote on the proposal. Following the existing regulations in Germany (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act or “Lieferkettengesetz”) and France (Duty of Diligence Act or “Loi sur le devoir de vigilance”), more EU member States may enact national legislation to ensure that businesses address the negative consequences of their actions, including those in their value chains. The legislative landscape regarding this topic is growing more complex.

Therefore, the Swiss commodity trading umbrella association SUISSENÉGOCE and the Total Quality Assurance provider Intertek, in cooperation with the human rights consultancy firm focusright, have developed a multi-step program to assist SUISSENÉGOCE (and thus LCTA) members in understanding how their policies and processes meet the legal requirements in this area. The program has five steps:

  1. Internal company Self-Assessments
  2. Company Evaluations
  3. Supply Chain Assessments
  4. Improve & Educate
  5. Analyse

During a 90-minute workshop, Intertek and focusright experts will provide a snapshot of the legislative landscape and walk participants through the program, with the ultimate goal of allowing them to take the necessary steps toward compliance at their own pace and implement bespoke due diligence strategies for their organization.

Discussion oriented, this program is followed by a networking aperitif.

Speakers:
Barbara Carini, EDGE Global Scheme Manager – GHG Scheme Manager – Sustainability reporting project leader, Intertek
Jérémy Gaspard, Vice President, Government Trade Services Global and World of Energy Europe, Intertek
Matthias Leisinger, Director, Co-Founder, focusright