Ordinance on Electronic Communication in Proceedings before Administrative Authorities (VERV) - Subject Matter and Scope (VERV)

1. This Ordinance governs electronic communication, particularly the requirements for electronic submissions by third parties as well as the notifications by authorities in proceedings before administrative authorities of the canton and municipalities pursuant to Article 1 of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

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1. Electronic communication must be conducted via a delivery platform.

2. The delivery platform must be recognized in accordance with Art. 3 of the Federal Council's Ordinance on Electronic Transmission within the Context of Civil and Criminal Proceedings as well as Debt Enforcement and Bankruptcy Proceedings.

1. Documents requiring a signature must be provided with a qualified electronic signature.

2. Documents issued by authorities may also be provided with an electronic seal.

3. The requirements for signature and seal are governed by the Federal Act on Electronic Signatures dated March 18, 2016 (ZertES).

1. Submissions must be transmitted in PDF or PDF/A format.

2. The authority may restrict the file size of submissions and, if necessary, require that submissions or attachments be subsequently provided in paper form.

1. Submissions to an Authority are to be sent to the address on the delivery platform used by them.

1. If the qualified certificate with the signature verification key is neither listed in the directory of recognized providers according to ZertES nor accessible on the delivery platform used by the authority, it must be attached to the dispatch.

1. The authority verifies the electronic signature of submissions.

2. It attaches to the paper printout the result of the signature verification as well as a confirmation that the printout correctly reflects the content of the electronic submission.

1. The time limit pursuant to Art. 9 para. 2 VRG is deemed to be met if the delivery platform has confirmed receipt before the expiry of the deadline.

1. Electronic delivery requires the consent of the recipients.

2. Consent can be limited to a specific procedure or granted for regularly recurring procedures before a particular authority and may be revoked at any time.

3. Consent and revocation must be in writing; they can also be given orally for the record. An electronic submission is considered consent for electronic deliveries by the authority in the specific procedure.

1. Anyone who wishes to receive deliveries from an authority by electronic means must designate the delivery platform and have themselves registered there.

1. Service is deemed to have occurred at the time of downloading from the service platform.

2. A service that is not downloaded is considered delivered on the seventh day after being made available.

1. This regulation shall enter into force on January 1, 2014.

2. It is to be published in the Official Gazette and included in the cantonal legislative collection.