For a phase-out plan from animal testing
In April 2023, we launched our campaign for a phase-out plan for animal experiments together with Zürcher Tierschutz, Stiftung für das Tier im Recht, Ligue Suisse contre l’expérimentation animale et pour les droits des animaux (LSCV) and ATRA. Over 40,000 people signed the associated petition within a year.
Background to the call for a phase-out plan
In spring 2022, Swiss voters rejected the popular initiative “Yes to a ban on animal and human experimentation”. However, this result should not be interpreted as a general Yes to animal experiments, but is due to the partially undifferentiated formulation of the initiative.
During the debate surrounding the initiative, the animal protection and animal rights organizations Animalfree Research, Zürcher Tierschutz, Stiftung für das Tier im Recht, Ligue Suisse contre l’expérimentation animale et pour les droits des animaux (LSCV) and ATRA spoke out in favour of a different approach. A realistic path that takes into account the demands of animal welfare as well as the concerns of science and industry. It also enjoys the support of the population. In a representative survey conducted by Eurogroup for Animals, 68% of respondents said that Switzerland should be a world leader when it comes to advancing science and innovation without animal testing. In other words, the No to the ban initiative was not a No to a Switzerland without animal testing. A majority of the population continues to see this goal as desirable.
The petition «Securing Switzerland as a center of research»
The five animal welfare and animal rights organizations from all parts of Switzerland submitted the petition “Securing Switzerland as a research location” on 29 April 2024 on the Federal Terrace. With over 40,000 signatures, they underpin their demand for a gradual phase-out of harmful animal experiments. Switzerland should become a role model for innovative, efficient research without animal suffering. Specifically, they are calling on Parliament and the Federal Council to:
make a binding commitment to a gradual phase-out of harmful animal experiments;
take measures to systematically review the benefits of state-funded research involving animal experiments and to publish these results on a regular basis;
initiate the necessary steps to develop a gradual phase-out plan for harmful animal experiments with binding and specific targets and milestones as well as corresponding deadlines.
On the campaign website you will find further information about the demand, the background and current developments.