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Swiss researchers appeal against refusal of primate research project
In 2006, when researchers at the University of Zurich and Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich originally applied for approval to study cortical changes in primates during learning processes, they were refused permission because an external ethical committee decided that a 12 hour water deprivation - used to increase the value of the fluid reward used during training - offended the dignity of the animals. The requirement to consider the animals' dignity was added to the Swiss constitution in 2004.
Recently, the two institutions appealed against this decision to their local administrative court. In a surprise ruling, the court upheld the refusal, arguing that society was unlikely to see any benefit from the research project during its 3-year duration. However, this appears to be a mis-interpretation of Swiss law which requires that, for each research project using animals, the effects on the animals must be weighed against the benefits to society. The court interpreted this to mean 'immediate benefit' - something that would effectively ban all basic research on animals.