Animal Experimentation Ordinance
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 2 Monitoring of laboratory animals
(Art. 121 AniWO) 1 Technical installations such as ventilation and automatic drinking systems shall be fitted with an alarm device if the failure or a malfunction of these systems can cause harm to the animals. 2 The condition of the animals' housing environment, especially bedding, feed and water, and also the well-being of the animals shall be checked daily. 3 The well-being of small rodents must be checked when they are transferred to clean cages. The animals must also be visually inspected at least three times a week. At weekends, the condition of the housing environment and the well-being of the animals need not be checked if it can be shown that the animals are not adversely affected by this procedure. 4 Small rodents are the animals listed in Annex 3 Table 1 AniWO. 5 If an animal shows signs of any strain, this should be indicated on the enclosure or cage. 6 The frequency of checks as specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be increased in accordance with the strain observed. 7 A
Art. 3 Individual housing of incompatible animals
(Art. 119 para. 2 AniWO) A record shall be kept of the beginning and end of individual housing for incompatible animals and of special events arising during such housing.
Art. 4 Run for dogs
(Art. 71 para. 2 AniWO) The run for dogs may be in an outdoor enclosure.
Art. 5 Marking of small rodents
(Art. 120 AniWO) 1 Invasive methods such as tattoos, microchips, ear notches or amputation of toe tips may be used for marking small rodents intended for breeding. 2 For marking small rodents not intended for breeding, the use of invasive methods must be justified in the context of the specific experiment. 3 Marking with ear tags is not permitted. 4 If marking is indispensable for genotyping, the marking and biopsy must be combined.
Art. 6 Measures and procedures in animal rooms
(Art. 135 para. 9 AniWO) The following measures and procedures may be performed in rooms where animals are kept: a. marking procedures; b. administration of substances or food, such as brief injections or gavage; c. taking of samples such as blood, hair, urine and saliva.
Art. 7 Documentation
(Art. 114 AniWO) 1 The allocation and instruction of personnel taking care of laboratory animals must be recorded in a comprehensible manner. 2 In the animal rooms, it must be clearly indicated who is responsible for compliance with animal welfare regulations for each animal. 3 Personnel must have access at all times to the documentation on strain and on the criteria for euthanasia.
Art. 8 Qualification of animal caretakers
(Art. 116 AniWO) At least one third of personnel in animal caretaker positions must hold a qualification as animal attendant as specified in Article 195 AniWO.