1 The Federal Statistical Office (Federal Office) is the central statistical office of the Confederation. It provides statistical services for the administrative units of the Confederation, for other users of data produced by federal statistical bodies and for the general public.
2 The Federal Office coordinates federal statistical bodies and draws up standard principles in the interests of national and international comparability. It prepares the multi-year programme in cooperation with other statistical offices and after consulting interested parties. It normally conducts the surveys and prepares comprehensive compilations of data, provided the Federal Council does not assign this duty to another statistical office or federal office.
3 The Federal Office cooperates closely with the cantons in the maintenance of a Business and Enterprise Register (BER) used as an aid in conducting surveys on businesses and enterprises. The Federal Council may provide that specific data is also used for purposes related to specific persons in the public interest.
3bis The Federal Office cooperates closely with the cantons in the maintenance of a Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (RBD). Access to the Register for statistical, research and planning purposes and to fulfil statutory obligations is open to the Confederation, and to each canton and commune in respect of the data pertaining to its territory. The Federal Council shall regulate the management of the Register and decree more detailed provisions on data protection. Insofar as no personal data is involved, the Federal Council may make the data in the register accessible to the public.19
3ter The Federal Office shall in close cooperation with the universities maintain Swiss Register of Students as an aid for compiling statistics. The cantons and the universities may use information from this register for checks that serve to safeguard their financial, administrative and legal interests in accordance with the Intercantonal Universities Agreement of 20 February 199720. The Federal Council shall determine the characteristics to be disclosed for this purpose and the modalities of disclosure.21
3quater The Federal Office maintains a Random Sample Register used as an aid for surveys of households and persons. Providers of public telephone services are obliged to provide the Federal Office with the required customer data, as far as this data is available. They may be compensated partially or fully for their time and efforts. The offices called on to participate in the survey may not use the data for their own purposes. Data in the Random Sample Register may only be used for surveys in accordance with this Act.22
3quinquies The Federal Council shall regulate the details.23
4 The administrative units as well as the other bodies, depending on the extent to which they are subject to Article 2 paragraph 3, shall provide the Federal Office with the results and principles of their statistical activities and, if required, data from their databases and surveys in order that the Federal Office may fulfil its duties.24
5 Duties of confidentiality and disclosure prohibitions may only prevent the disclosure of data to the Federal Office if a federal act expressly excludes disclosing or using data for statistical purposes. In accordance with Article 19 of this Act and Article 39 of the Data Protection Act of 25 September 202025, the Federal Office may not disclose such data.26