John Revill

ZURICH, Reuters – Swiss voters will make the decision on Sunday about whether they want to be the first nation to ban animal testing. They will do so in a referendum which will also examine tightening regulations on cigarette advertisements.

The campaigners for the end of all animal experiments, including those on rats, mice and mice, have collected enough signatures to hold a vote in the Swiss direct democracy system. However, strong resistance was received from the huge pharmaceutical industry.

This industry includes Novartis and Roche, two of the biggest players in pharmaceutical research.

Advocates of animal testing being banned, as government data indicates that more than 500 000 animals died in Swiss labs in 2020, argue the practice is unjustifiable and not ethical.

Recent opinion polls showed that 68% of respondents oppose the proposed ban. It is therefore unlikely it will be approved.

It seems that the plan to limit tobacco advertising will pass with 63% support.

The government will decide how to execute the suggestions based on votes given by voters.

To pass the anti-tobacco campaign it needs to be supported by a majority vote of voters and cantons. It wants to expand current advertising restrictions to include adverts that young people see.

Advertising in newspapers, cinemas and the internet is prohibited. Supporters claim that such advertisements encourage youth smoking.

The government believes the planned crackdown is excessive and offers counterproposals to reduce advertising, while still permitting it in newspapers, shops, and online.

On Sunday, the government will decide whether to repeal the 1% equity tax that companies pay. It believes this would help reduce investment costs as well as support economic growth.

Opponents argue that scrapping the tax which generates approximately 250 million Swiss Francs ($270million) annually would be beneficial mainly to large corporations, while individual taxpayers will have to compensate the difference.

Voters will be deciding the last issue on Sunday: financial support for Swiss media. With an aid package totaling 151 millions francs, the government hopes to prevent more radio and local newspaper stations from closing down.

Posters with slogans that read “No taxpayer cash for media billionaires” were displayed on the walls of opponents to the proposal. They claimed it would waste public money and threaten media independence.

According to SRG’s latest polling data, 49% could vote against the election and 46% for it.

($1 = 0.9256 Swiss francs)