The Swiss Medical Board has published new recommendations for the use of statins as primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In its report, the specialist committee reaches the conclusion that, before prescribing statins, the individual risk of a cardiovascular event has to be evaluated and other methods of risk reduction exhausted. If the risk of cardiovascular disease is below 10%, the use of statins is not indicated. SMB sponsors have acknowledged the report and are presenting a post-publication review.