The NOGA (abbreviation for General Classification of Economic Activities) is a classification used in Switzerland at five levels.
The NOGA code has 5 levels:
- 1st level: Section = 1 capital letter
- 2nd level: Division = 2 digits = International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities of the United Nations (ISIC)
- 3rd level: Group = 3 digits
- 4th level: Class = 4 digits = European Classification of Economic Activities (NACE)
- 5th level: Type = 6 digits = General Classification of Economic Activities (NOGA)
It enables the statistical units to be classified by their main economic activity and categorised into coherent groups.
It takes into account both modifications to the Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE) and the needs of various interest groups in Switzerland.
The NOGA codes are used for statistical purposes. From a legal perspective, the allocation of a NOGA code by the FSO is not binding given that no legal foundations exist in relation to this.
Some insurance companies, recruitment agencies, pension funds, etc. use the NOGA codes at their own initiative to set their risk premiums. This practice is quite relevant but it should be stated that, as mentioned above, the FSO's NOGA was developed for statistical purposes and does not have any legal foundations. A change in premiums cannot be set based on the FSO's NOGA codes. In case of doubt, insurance premiums must be negotiated individually between enterprises and their insurance company.
