Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation

The Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) is a body jointly operated by the SAMS and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Its members are drawn from the fields of biomedical research (including basic scientific research), veterinary medicine, animal welfare, law and (animal) ethics.

The ECAE acts as an expert and advisory body in the area of animal experimentation. It anticipates and discusses ethical challenges arising from research involving animals, with the aim of promoting high-quality, responsible and scientifically robust research. The ECAE draws up position papers and recommendations, examines legal provisions as well as guidance tools and implementations frameworksin the area of animal experimentation and, where appropriate, comments on national and international regulations.

In addition, the ECAE provides a forum for inter- and transdisciplinary as well as interinstitutional dialogue among the stakeholders concerned. This dialogue is promoted, for example, by means of symposia and expert round tables. The ECAE is committed to open dialogue on animal experimentation under STAAR - Swiss Transparency Agreement on Animal Research.

STAAR - Swiss Transparency Agreement on Animal Research

More information on animal experiments

Prof. Michael Schmid, Department of Neurosciences and Movement Sciences, Université de Fribourg (Vice Chair, Chair until 30 June 2026)
Prof. Michael O. Hottiger, Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Universität Zürich (Chair from 1 July 2026)
Dr. Charlotte E. Blattner, Faculté de droit, des sciences criminelles et d’administration publique, Université de Lausanne
Dr. Matthias Eggel, Philosophisches Seminar, Universität Basel
Dr. Gisèle Ferrand, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel
Dr. Silvia Frey, Animalfree Research, Bern
Dr. Simone Gilg, Abteilung Tiergesundheit und Tierschutz, Tierversuche, Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, Bern
Prof. Daniel Huber, Department of Basic Neurosciences, Université de Genève
Andrea Kern, MSc, SAMS, Bern (ex officio)
Dr. Angela Martin, Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute, Université de Fribourg
Dr. Daniele Roppolo, Université de Genève
Prof. Goran Seferovic, Institut für Regulierung und Wettbewerb, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Winterthur
Dr. Michaela Thallmair, Animal Welfare Officer, Universität Zürich
Dr. Andrina Zbinden-Hauzenberger, Animal Welfare Officer, Université de Fribourg

By-laws of the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation in French and in German.

• Discussion paper: Possible reforms of the authorisation procedure
  for animal experiments in Switzerland, draft available in French or German
• ECAE submission to the consultation on the revision of ordinances in the area of animal welfare (15 March 2024) available in German
• SAMS Bulletin 1/2022: Round Table on licensing procedures (p. 6, 2022) available in French or German
• Position paper: Handling of laboratory animals during the Covid-19 pandemic (2 December 2020) available in French or German
• SAMS Bulletin 2/2019: Licensing procedures for animal experiments: stricter controls or greater individual responsibility? (2019) available in French or German
• Argumentation regarding the parliamentary initiative 18.491 (2019) available in French or German
• Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Experiments on Animals (2005, under revision – new edition scheduled for 2024) available in French or German

The annual reports of the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation are available in German.

More information on animal experimentation

Animal experimentation explained

STAAR