Facts
Researchers [X.] and [Y.] from the Institute of Neuroinformatics at the University of Zurich and the ETH applied to the Veterinary Office of the Canton of Zurich for permission to conduct an animal experiment with four rhesus monkeys. The aim of the experiment was to investigate how the visual system learns and can improve its performance. For this purpose, the monkeys were to be accustomed to the primate chair and the solving of visual tasks during a training phase of 3 to 12 months, before the actual experimental phase of one year followed. The Veterinary Office initially approved the animal experiment, but the Animal Experimentation Commission and six of its members filed an appeal. The Health Directorate of the Canton of Zurich then revoked the approval.Considerations
The Federal Court confirmed the decision of the lower instances not to approve the animal experiment. It stated that in the balancing of interests according to Art. 61 para. 3 lit. d of the Animal Welfare Ordinance (aTSchV), both the expected gain in knowledge and the burden on the animals must be taken into account. Although the experiment served basic research, which is important for general scientific knowledge, the clinical benefit of the…