Switzerland to vote on becoming first nation to ban animal testing

Novatti

13/02/2022 01:00

* Pharmaceutical industry opposes testing ban
    * Tobacco advert curbs would go too far, says government
    * Equity tax, media funding proposals also face vote

    By John Revill
    ZURICH, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Voters in Switzerland will decide
on Sunday whether to become the first country to ban animal
testing in a referendum that will also consider tightening
controls on cigarette advertising.
    Campaigners who want to end all experiments on mice, rats
and other animals gathered enough signatures to stage the vote
under the Swiss system of direct democracy, meeting strong
opposition from the country's huge pharmaceutical sector.
    The industry, which includes heavyweights Roche  ROG.S  and
Novartis  NOVN.S , says such research is needed to develop new
drugs.
    Supporters of a ban https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/swiss-vote-becoming-first-country-ban-animal-testing-2022-02-10
 on animal testing, which government data shows caused more than
500,000 animals to die in Swiss laboratories in 2020, say the
practice is ethically wrong and unnecessary.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2UF4D5
    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 say scrapping the tax, which raises about 250
million Swiss francs ($270 million) per year, would benefit
mainly large companies, with individual taxpayers left to make
up the shortfall.
    Financial support for Swiss media is the final issue to be
considered by voters on Sunday. The government wants to avert
the closure of more local newspapers and radio stations by
granting an aid package of 151 million francs.
    With slogans on posters saying "No taxpayers' cash for media
billionaires", opponents have said the proposal would be a waste
of public money and could threaten media independence. 
    The vote could go either way, with 49% against and 46% in
favour, according to the latest polling data published by Swiss
broadcaster SRG.
($1 = 0.9256 Swiss francs)

 (Reporting by John Revill
Editing by Helen Popper)
 ((John.Revill@thomsonreuters.com; +41 41 528 36 37; Reuters
Messaging: john.revill.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))