Here’s an article in Nature on the effects of a 2004 law on research in Switzerland. Basically, the “dignity” of all creatures must be considered – nice and vague – and researchers have been trying to figure out what it means for the last 4 years (whether they study monkeys or corn). Scientists and the editors of Nature seem to be upset by the potential stifling this may have on Swiss science, but I can’t tell whether this applies to all research in Switzerland, or just that funded by the federal granting agencies.