The Federal Council began the consultation process for the  “Swissness” legislative amendment on 28 November 2007. See the press release in German (pdf), French (pdf) or Italian (pdf). The draft aims at two main goals: Firstly, protection for “Made in Switzerland” designations and the Swiss cross should be strengthened domestically and abroad, and, secondly, regulations regarding “Made in Switzerland” designations and the Swiss cross should be formulated more precisely in order to create greater legal certainty and clarity. The public consultation ended on 31 March 2008.

At its 15 October 2008 session, the Federal Council directed the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to draft a legislative dispatch on the amendment of the Trade Mark Protection Act and the Coats of Arms Protection Act. See the press release (pdf in German, French or Italian).