Archive law in Switzerland

Archivistic law in Switzerland is regulated in a federalist manner: each canton has its own law and/or regulation (ordinance) on archives. There are also archival regulations in some cities and large municipalities. The Confederation enacted the Archiving Act in 1998, though it only affects federal archives and has no direct effect on the cantons, cities, or municipalities, although cantons that legislated after 1998 drew inspiration from federal provisions.

Due to federalism, regulations are highly diverse, particularly regarding protection periods. However, they often share a similar structure. Each archive stems from its own historical and regulatory tradition. For example, the state archives of a university canton do not operate in the same environment as those of a non-university canton.

History of archival law

Until the 1980s, archival regulation was mostly limited to a few regulatory provisions included in texts governing the executive functions responsible for archives, except in the Canton of Geneva, which, as early as 1925, adopted a "Loi sur les archives publiques".[1] In 1984 and 1989, the cantons of Jura and Neuchâtel also adopted archival laws. Their motivations were quite different: for Jura, it was about equipping the newly created canton with an archival organization, while for Neuchâtel, it was about addressing the challenge of new digital media and clarifying problematic protection periods.

A new legislative development took place in the 1990s with the emergence of data protection laws. Their priority was the protection of personal privacy (data protection). In order of adoption, the following cantons now have a law on archives: Jura (1984 and 2011), Neuchâtel (1989), Zurich (1995), Basel-Stadt (1996), Geneva (2000), Glarus and Lucerne (2003), Zug (2004), Basel-Landschaft, Solothurn (2006), Bern (2009), Ticino (2011), and Vaud (2012). Strictly speaking, these are mostly laws on archiving rather than on archives, as they regulate the archiving process.

In other cantons, archiving is governed only by regulations, some of which are 30 years old. These regulations often address archives alongside other provisions related to state organization.

In Aargau, the "Gesetz über die Information der Öffentlichkeit, den Datenschutz und das Archivwesen" (IDAG) was adopted in 2006.[2] This was the first time in Switzerland that these three themes were combined in a single regulatory text. The Valais followed suit with a similar joint law adopted in 2008 (Loi sur l'information du public, la protection des données et l'archivage, LIPDA).[3] In Geneva, these three areas were coordinated through a series of legislative revisions: the "Loi sur les archives" (LArch in 2000 and its regulation in 2001), and the "Loi sur l'information du public, l'accès aux documents et la protection des données personnelles" (LIPAD in 2001-2008).

In addition to strictly archival laws and regulations, there are other specific legal norms that impact archive management. For example, the Confederation, the canton of Basel-Stadt, and Vaud have regulations on the protection of personal documents. Access to archived documents may also be restricted by professional secrecy, the violation of which is punishable by fines or imprisonment under Article 321 of the penal code.[4]

Access rights and administrative documents

Some cantons have addressed the issue of access rights to archived documents in legal provisions other than archival texts. For example, the canton of Valais did so in its law and regulation on cultural promotion (LPrC, art. 29).[5] In the cantons of Bern, Solothurn, and Vaud, access rights are not regulated in archival laws but in laws and regulations on access to public documents. In these three cantons, the public is considered to have the right to access public documents unless a prevailing interest opposes it, regardless of whether the documents are held in services or archives.[6] Consequently, the archiving laws and regulations of these cantons contain only marginal notes (Vaud)[7] or no provisions (Bern, Solothurn) on access to archived documents. The Confederation, as well as the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Geneva, recognize the principle of access to public documents. However, access to archived documents is primarily regulated in archival laws and regulations.

Archival laws and regulations at federal and cantonal levels

Confederation

Canton of Aargau

  • Verordnung über die Archivierung (Archivverordnung) of 6 May 1998 (SAR 150.711) [6]
  • Verordnung über die Information der Öffentlichkeit, den Datenschutz und das Archivwesen (VIDAG) of 26 September 2007 (SAR 150.711) [7]

Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

  • Verordnung über das Archivwesen (Archivverordnung) of 14 November 1988 (bGS 421.11) [8]
  • Gesetz über Information und Akteneinsicht (Informationsgesetz) of 28 April 1996 (bGS 133.1) [9]
  • Gesetz über den Datenschutz (Datenschutzgesetz) (bGS 146.1) [10]

Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden

  • Standeskommissionsbeschluss über das Landesarchiv of 27 October 1992 (BGS 432.101) [11]
  • Datenschutzgesetz (DSchG) of 30 April 2000 (BSG 172.800) [12]

Canton of Basel-Landschaft

  • Gesetz über die Archivierung (Archivierungsgesetz) of 11 May 2006 (SGS 163) [13]
  • Verordnung zum Datenschutzgesetz of 7 March 1991 (SGS 162) [14]
  • Verordnung zum Personalgesetz (Personalverordnung) of 19 December 2000 (SGS 150.11) [15]
  • Verordnung über die Aktenführung of 17 December 2002 (SGS 140.13) [16]

Canton of Basel-Stadt

  • Gesetz über das Archivwesen (Archivgesetz) of 11 September 1996 (SG 153.600) [17]
  • Verordnung über die Registraturen und das Archivieren (Registratur- und Archivierungsverordnung) of 13 October 1998 (SG 153.610) [18]
  • Gesetz über den Schutz von Personendaten (Datenschutzgesetz) of 18 March 1992 (SG 153.260) [19]

Canton of Bern

Canton of Fribourg

  • Loi du 10 September 2015 sur l’archivage et les Archives de l’État (LArch) (ROF 2015_088) [20] and Règlement of ... [awaiting validation, 2017] sur l'archivage

Canton of Geneva

  • Loi sur l’information du public, l’accès aux documents et la protection des données personnelles (LIPAD) of 5 October 2001, amended on 9 October 2008 (addition of personal data protection) (RSG A 2 08) [21]
  • Loi sur les archives publiques of 1 December 2000 (RSG B 2 15) [22]
  • Règlement d'application de la loi sur les archives publiques of 21 August 2001 (RSG B 2 15.01) [23]

Canton of Glarus

  • Gesetz über das Archivwesen of 4 May 2003 (GS II A/7/1) [24]
  • Verordnung zum Archivgesetz of 25 October 2005 (GS II A/7/2) [25]
  • Reglement über die Organisation des Landesarchivs und die Ablieferung von Akten of 4 April 1972 (GS IV F/3) [26]
  • Gesetz über den Schutz von Personendaten of 5 May 2002 (GS I F/1) [27]

Canton of Graubünden

  • Verordnung für das Staatsarchiv Graubünden of 5 September 1988 (BR 490.100) [28]
  • Verordnung über die Gemeinde-, Kreis- und Bezirksarchive of 5 September 1988 (BR 490.150) [29]
  • Kantonales Datenschutzgesetz (KDSG) of 10 June 2001 (BR 171.100) [30]

Canton of Jura

  • Loi sur l'archivage of 20 October 2010 (RSJU 441.21) [31]
  • Ordonnance sur les archives publiques de la République et Canton du Jura of 7 April 1988 (RSJU 441.211) [32]
  • Arrêté portant adhésion de la République et Canton du Jura à la convention intercantonale relative à la protection des données et à la transparence dans les cantons du Jura et de Neuchâtel CPDT-JUNE (RSJU 170.41) [33]
  • Loi sur les archives publiques de la République et Canton du Jura of 11 October 1984 (repealed)

Canton of Lucerne

  • Gesetz über das Archivwesen (Archivgesetz) of 16 June 2003 (SRL 585) [34]
  • Verordnung zum Archivgesetz (Archivverordnung) of 9 December 2003 (SRL 586) [35]

Canton of Neuchâtel

  • Loi sur l'archivage (LArch) of 22 February 2011 and Règlement d'exécution de la loi sur l'archivage of 29 April 2013
  • Convention intercantonale relative à la protection des données et à la transparence dans les cantons du Jura et de Neuchâtel (CPDT-JUNE) of 9 May 2012
  • Loi sur les archives de l'État of 9 October 1989 (RSN 442.20) [36] (repealed)
  • Arrêté d'exécution de la loi sur les archives de l'État of 2 May 1990 (RSN 442.21) [37] (repealed)
  • Arrêté versant définitivement le double du fichier du ministère public au service des archives de l'État of 19 February 1992 (RSN 442.22) [38]
  • Loi cantonale sur la protection de la personnalité (LCPP), of 14 December 1982 (RSN 150.30) [39] (repealed)
  • Règlement d'exécution de la loi cantonale sur la protection de la personnalité of 20 June 1988 (RSN 150.31) [40] (repealed)

Canton of Nidwalden

  • Verordnung über das Staatsarchiv of 18 October 1996 (GDB 131.21) [41]
  • Gesetz über den Datenschutz (Kantonales Datenschutzgesetz, kDSG) of 1 June 2008 (GDB 232.1) [42]

Canton of Obwalden

  • Verordnung über das Staatsarchiv of 18 October 1996 (GDB 131.21) [43]
  • Gesetz über den Datenschutz (Datenschutzgesetz) of 1 November 2008 (GDB 137.1) [44]

Canton of St. Gallen

  • Gesetz über Aktenführung und Archivierung of 19 April 2011 (sGS 147.1) [45]
  • Verordnung über Aktenführung und Archivierung of 19 March 2019 (sGS 147.11) [46]

Canton of Schaffhausen

  • Verordnung über das Staatsarchiv und die Archivierung der Verwaltungsakten (Archivverordnung) of 8 February 1994 (SHR 172.301) [47]

Canton of Schwyz

  • Verordnung über das Archivwesen des Kantons Schwyz of 1 July 1994 (SRSZ 140.611) [48]
  • Gesetz über die Öffentlichkeit der Verwaltung und den Datenschutz of 23 May 2007 (SRSZ 140.410) [49]

Canton of Solothurn

  • Informations- und Datenschutzgesetz of 21 February 2001 (BGS 114.1) [50]
  • Informations- und Datenschutzverordnung of 10 December 2001 (BGS 114.2) [51]
  • Archivgesetz of 25 January 2006 (BGS 122.51) [52]
  • Archivverordnung (ArchivVO) of 23 October 2006 (BGS 122.511) [53]

Canton of Thurgau

  • Reglement des Regierungsrates über das Staatsarchiv of 6 December 1988 (RB 432.111) [54]
  • Verordnung des Regierungsrates über die Gemeindearchive of 9 February 1948 (RB 432.161) [55]

Canton of Ticino

  • Legge sull’archiviazione e sugli archivi pubblici (LArch) of 15 March 2011 (164.100) [56]
  • Regolamento della legge sull’archiviazione e sugli archivi pubblici (RLArch) of 28 March 2012 (164.110) [57]

Canton of Uri

  • Archivreglement of 4 June 2002 (RB 10.6212) [58]

Canton of Valais

  • Loi sur la promotion de la culture (KFG) of 15 November 1996 (RDV 440.1) [59]
  • Règlement sur la promotion de la culture of 7 July 1999 (RDV 440.100) [60]
  • Règlement concernant les archives de l'administration d'État of 17 November 1982 (RDV 440.102) [61]
  • Arrêté concernant la réorganisation des archives communales et bourgeoisiales of 18 June 1922 (RDV 440.103) [62] (repealed?)
  • Règlement sur l’archivage des dossiers judiciaires of 5 September 2005 (RDV 173.102) [63]
  • Loi concernant la protection des données à caractère personnel of 18 June 1984 (RSV 235.1) [64] (repealed?)
  • Règlement d’exécution de la loi concernant la protection des données à caractère personnel of 18 June 1984 (RSV 235.101) [65] (repealed?)
  • Loi sur l'information du public, la protection des données et l'archivage (LIPDA) of 9 October 2008 and Règlement d'exécution de la loi sur l'information du public, la protection des données et l'archivage (RèLIPDA) of 6 December 2010

Canton of Vaud

  • Loi sur l'information of 24 September 2002 (LInfo) (BLV 170.21)
  • Règlement d'application de la loi of 24 September sur l'information (RLInfo) (BLV 170.21.1)
  • Règlement de l’ordre judiciaire sur l’information (ROJI) of 13 June 2006 (BLV 170.21.2)
  • Loi sur la protection des données personnelles of 11 September 2007 (LPrD) (BLV 172.65)
  • Règlement d'application de la loi of 11 September 2007 sur la protection des données personnelles, of 29 October 2008 (RLPrD) (BLV 172.65.1)
  • Loi sur l'archivage of 14 June 2011 (LArch) (BLV 432.11)
  • Règlement d’application de la loi of 14 June 2011 sur l’archivage, of 19 December 2011 (BLV 432.11.1)
  • Arrêté ordonnant la remise aux Archives cantonales des anciens plans cadastraux et terriers, of 13 August 2001 (BLV 432.11.1.2)
  • Arrêté ordonnant la remise aux Archives cantonales des anciens registres et autres documents du gouvernement antérieurs à 1803, in effect from 22 January 1946 (BLV 432.11.1.1)

Canton of Zug

  • Archivgesetz of 29 January 2004 (BGS 152.4) [66]
  • Datenschutzgesetz of 28 September 2000 (BGS 157.1) [67]
  • Datensicherheitsverordnung (DSV) of 16 January 2007 (BGS 157.12) [68]

Canton of Zurich

  • Archivgesetz of 24 September 1995 (LS 432.11) [69]
  • Archivverordnung of 9 December 1998 (LS 432.111) [70]

Bibliography

  • Coutaz, Gilbert; Jeanmonod, Gilles (2018). "La place de la donnée personnelle dans les archives historiques. Essai d'interprétation à travers les archives de santé aux Archives cantonales vaudoises" [The Place of Personal Data in Historical Archives. An Interpretative Essay through Health Archives at the Vaud Cantonal Archives] (PDF). Rapport d'activité des Archives cantonales vaudoises 2017 (in French): 42–80.
  • Coutaz, Gilbert (2016). Archives en Suisse. Conserver la mémoire à l'ère numérique [Archives in Switzerland. Preserving Memory in the Digital Age]. Le Savoir suisse, Opinion (in French). Lausanne: Presse polytechniques et universitaires romandes. p. 131.
  • "Archivistique. Législation. Accès aux archives" [Archival Science. Legislation. Access to Archives]. Traverse (in French) (10, 2): 7–105. 2003.
  • Burgy, François; Roth-Lochner, Barbara (2002–2003). "Les Archives en Suisse ou la fureur du particularisme" [Archives in Switzerland or the Fury of Particularism] (PDF). Archives (in French). 34 (1–2): 42–43.
  • Coutaz, Gilbert (1998). "L'archiviste entre le droit à l'information et la protection des informations réservées" [The Archivist Between the Right to Information and the Protection of Restricted Information]. Lligall. Revista Catalana d'Arxivistica. Associacio d'Arxivers de Catalunya (in French) (12/1998 - Janus, 1998.1 - Ve Conférence Européennes des Archives: les bases du métier): 205–218.
  • Zwicker, Josef (1997). "Archivrecht in der Schweiz – Stand und Aufgaben" [Archival Law in Switzerland – Status and Objectives]. Revue suisse d'histoire (in German). 47: 286–312.
  • Coutaz, Gilbert; Giilliéron, Christian (2012). Loi sur l'archivage. Contexte, règlement d'application et lois connexes [lois sur l'information et sur la protection des données personnelles] [Law on Archiving. Context, Implementing Regulation, and Related Laws [Laws on Information and Personal Data Protection]] (in French). Chavannes-près-Renens: Archives cantonales vaudoises. p. 65.

References

  1. ^ "Archives de la Ville de Genève". Archives de la ville de Genève (in French). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  2. ^ "LexWork". gesetzessammlungen.ag.ch. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  3. ^ "LexWork". lex.vs.ch. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  4. ^ "Fedlex". www.fedlex.admin.ch. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  5. ^ "LexWork". lex.vs.ch. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  6. ^ "Öffentlichkeitsprinzip". Kanton Bern (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  7. ^ "Accès aux archives | État de Vaud". www.vd.ch (in Swiss French). Retrieved 2025-08-07.
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