Weighing of interests for proposed animal experiments. Guidance for applicants (2nd ed.)

Researchers applying for a licence to conduct an animal experiment in Switzerland are required to consider ethical as well as scientific aspects. The ethical evaluation takes the form of a weighing of interests. To help researchers to carry out the procedure correctly, the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) of the Swiss Academies published a first guidance document in 2017. Following the revision of the application form for animal experiments by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), the ECAE produced a second revised edition of the guidance, which is consistent with the current documentation issued by the FSVO.