Green light for stem cell research in Switzerland 

The law on stem cell research was approved by the Swiss parliament in December 2003. However, the Green Party and anti-abortion groups managed to gather enough signatures to force a referendum on the issue. Some 66.4 per cent of the Swiss voters, who were called to vote on 28 November 2004, said 'yes'. 

The approved law is stricter than the original one approved in December 2003, as it does not allow the creation of embryos via therapeutic cloning. The new law will enter into force in March 2005.

In Europe, the Netherlands, France, Denmark and Spain already permit stem cell research on embryos left over from artificial reproduction. Austria, and more recently Germany, only allow research on imported cells.

The Bush administration has put severe limitations on stem cell research. However, California recently approved a three billion dollar spend on the establishment of a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.