Swiss Voters Stop Proposed Animal Testing Ban

A campaign in Switzerland that would ban all animal testing failed to pass this weekend earning only 21% of the vote. The measure, if passed, would’ve made Switzerland the first country in the world to ban the use of animals in research. Supporters argue that animal testing has been rendered unnecessary by new technological alternatives, while opponents, including the pharmaceutical industry, insist that such a ban would negatively impact their economy.

According to DW, ” Pharmaceutical giants Roche and Novartis argued that animal testing is still necessary to develop new medications. Opponents of the ban also said that major companies could choose to leave Switzerland should the measure pass. Around 500,000 animals — including mice, rabbits, rats, and others — are killed in laboratories in Switzerland each year.”

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(Source: DW, February 14^th, 2022)