Sponsors (7)
The bill strengthens ethical oversight and transparency for NIH-funded animal research conducted abroad to protect animal welfare and taxpayer funds, but imposes administrative costs and risks delays or disruption to international research collaborations.
NIH-funded researchers abroad must meet U.S. animal-care standards, increasing assurance that federally funded animal research follows ethical practices.
Noncompliant foreign facilities risk suspension or revocation of NIH funding, helping protect U.S. research dollars from misuse and discouraging poor practices.
Public access to compliance certificates increases transparency about which foreign labs meet U.S. animal welfare standards.
Suspension or revocation of funding for noncompliant foreign labs could disrupt ongoing research projects and delay scientific progress supported by NIH grants.
Implementing inspections and certification requirements abroad will require significant HHS/NIH resources and international coordination, increasing administrative costs for agencies (and indirectly taxpayers).
Foreign labs may face increased administrative burdens and costs from quarterly inspections and certification requirements, potentially slowing or discouraging international research collaboration.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires quarterly inspections and public compliance certifications for foreign labs receiving NIH funds and holding Animal Welfare Assurances; noncompliance can lead to suspension or revocation of funding.
Official title: Amend section 495 of the Public Health Service Act to require inspections of foreign laboratories conducting biomedical and behavioral research to ensure compliance with applicable animal welfare requirements, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 25, 2025 by Eric Stephen Schmitt · Last progress March 25, 2025
Requires quarterly inspections of non-U.S. laboratories that receive NIH (or national research institute) funding and hold an Animal Welfare Assurance to confirm they meet U.S. animal-research standards. The Department (Secretary), with NIH and foreign authorities, must set up inspection procedures, designate inspectors, allow corrective periods, issue written compliance certificates after each quarterly inspection, publish certificates publicly, and suspend or revoke funding for facilities that don’t correct violations after notice. The rule takes effect 180 days after enactment.