What is vivisection and is it practised in Switzerland?

Vivisection has been banned in Switzerland – as well as in the European Union – for a long time. This refers to the opening of the body on non-anaesthetised animals. In the early days of animal experiments until the middle of the last century, it was unfortunately practise during research. In the meantime, it is mandatory for operations to be carried out under anaesthesia and with the use of painkillers, adapted to the type of animal and the surgery. Anaesthesia means that the animal is not conscious and does not feel any pain. Any other situation in which an animal might feel pain also requires painkilling medication.

Unfortunately, some anti-animal organisations use the term vivisection as a synonym for animal experimentation to deliberately discredit experimental animal research. However, this term does not reflect the reality of how animals are worked with and researched today and is therefore technically incorrect.