[Animal welfare legislation and animal experiments in Switzerland--effects and challenges].

The Swiss animal welfare legislation, which restricts experiments on animals, entered into force in 1981. The discussions, the legal prescriptions, the official guidelines and the ethical principles for animal experimentation issued by scientists are treated. The legislation has slowly brought about positive effects. Animal experimentation shows for several reasons a remarkable decline in the last years. Research on alternative methods to animal experiments was substantially promoted. Further improvements in the field of animal experimentation are requested.