SWISS TO VOTE ON BAN ANIMAL TESTING DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR

Sun 13 February 2022:

Switzerland’s voters will decide on Sunday whether to make history by becoming the first country to outlaw animal testing in a referendum that will also examine strengthening cigarette advertising restrictions.

Campaigners who want to ban all tests on mice, rats, and other animals gathered enough signatures to hold a vote under Switzerland’s direct democracy system, but were met with fierce opposition from the country’s massive pharmaceutical industry.

The pharmaceutical industry, which includes major players like Roche and Novartis, claims that such research is required to produce new treatments.

Animal testing is ethically wrong and unnecessary, according to supporters of a ban on the practice, which caused more than 500,000 animals to die in Swiss laboratories in 2020, according to government figures.

The most recent opinion poll showed 68% of respondents opposed the proposed ban, suggesting it is unlikely to be approved.

The proposal to further restrict tobacco advertising looks likely to pass, with 63% of people polled in favour.

Voters’ answers will be binding on the government, which will then decide on how to implement the proposals.

The anti-tobacco campaign, which needs support from a majority of cantons and voters to pass, wants to extend the current curbs on advertising to cover adverts anywhere young people can see them.

This would include barring advertising in newspapers, cinemas, the internet, at events, and on billboards, with supporters saying such adverts encourage youth smoking.

The government says the proposed crackdown goes too far, and has come up with counterproposals that would further reduce advertising but still allow it in newspapers, shops and on the internet.

Also being decided on Sunday is a government proposal to abolish a 1% tax on equity raised by a company, a measure it says would reduce investment costs and support economic growth.

Opponents argue that eliminating the tax, which raises around 250 million Swiss francs ($270 million) year, will mostly benefit huge corporations, leaving individual taxpayers to make up the difference.

The final topic that voters will examine on Sunday is financial assistance for Swiss media. By approving a 151 million franc aid package, the government hopes to prevent the closure of more local newspapers and radio stations.

Opponents have slammed the proposal as a waste of public funds and a danger to media independence, with slogans such as “No taxpayers’ money for media billionaires” painted across posters.

According to the latest polling data given by Swiss broadcaster SRG, the vote may go either way, with 49 percent against and 46 percent in favor.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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