Newsletter 1061: Update of Regulations & Information

Dear Sir or Madam

We would like to inform you that VQF has revised its SRO Regulations, its Fee Regulations, its Procedural Regulations, and its Arbitration Regulations. The updated regulations have been approved by the Board of Directors and, where required, by FINMA. They will enter into force on 1 January 2026 and replace the previous versions.

The most important changes include:

• Abolition of the NBFI status as of 1 January 2026 (including the repeal of Art. 2 para. 2 SRO-Regulation)
• Adjustments and/or extensions of business activities must now be reported as mutations (mutationen@vqf.ch)
• Introduction of the right to inspect files in sanction proceedings (Art. 19 para. 4 Rules of Procedure)
• Increase of the sanction framework for violations of the regulations
• Adjustment of various hourly rates for professional consulting and administrative efforts
• Adjustment of the fee structure: the turnover fee will be charged retrospectively in the future (analogous to the AMLA file fee)
• Fee Regulations: Inclusion of the former Appendix of the Rules of Procedure and Rules of Arbitration (repeal of VQF Doc. No. 607.02 / 608.02)
• Self-declaration: Increase of the fee in case of non-submission within the specified deadline
  
  

The updated regulations can be found below in this newsletter in their German version. The English documents will be published and communicated next year. 

Please also note that, going forward, all individuals in contact with VQF must communicate with us exclusively via a single unified email address. This will form the basis for streamlined processes, future digitalisation steps, and more efficient communication.

As of 8 January 2026, the regulations will also be available in our download section, allowing you to access them at any time. 

If you have any questions or require further clarification, we remain at your disposal.

Kind regards
VQF - Financial Services Standards Association