X-Message-Number: 25177
From: "Mikhail Soloviev" <>
Subject: [Swiss] Voters say yes to stem-cell research
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2004 14:04:12 +0100

Voters say yes to stem-cell research

swissinfo

November 29, 2004

The government has won strong backing for a law allowing stem-
cell research on surplus human embryos, with two-thirds of Swiss
voting in favour.

In a nationwide poll on Sunday, voters also gave their support
to two other government proposals: reform of the federal system,
and a renewal of the federal authorities' mandate to levy taxes.

The new law on stem-cell research won the backing of 66.4 per
cent of Swiss voters.

In French-speaking western Switzerland the percentage was even
higher. Canton Geneva recorded the highest level of support at
84.5 per cent.

The new legislation will permit research on stem cells from
surplus human embryos under strict conditions.

The production of stem cells will be limited to embryos not
older than seven days. Therapeutic cloning and the trade in
embryos will remain banned along with research on the embryos
themselves.

Parliament approved the law in 2003, but an alliance of
religious and pro-life groups as well as leftwing opponents of
gene technology challenged the legislation to a nationwide vote.

The interior minister, Pascal Couchepin, said the clear yes was
a vote of confidence for science.

He said it showed people were able to take decisions on complex
issues.

Controversy

The government, the four main political parties and the business
community came out in favour of stem-cell research despite
prominent dissenting voices.

Opponents argued that the law overstepped ethical boundaries,
while its supporters said it was crucial to ensuring that
Switzerland s research community remained among the best in the
world.

Those in favour of stem-cell research pointed out its importance
for finding medical cures.

The Swiss stem-cell law falls between the liberal regulations in
Britain and Austria s restrictive legislation.

Three years ago Switzerland s National Science Foundation gave
its approval for research on stem cells imported from abroad.

<...>

swissinfo

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