#USA #Washington #Cambodia #CITES #Long-Tailed Macaque

CITES Committee's Assessment on Long-Tailed Macaque Breeding Practices

On November 12, 2025, the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) published a comprehensive evaluation of long-tailed macaque breeding practices in Cambodia. This report acknowledges Cambodia's commitment to providing extensive data during the review process and commends the country's transparency and cooperation regarding its compliance with international regulations.

The Standing Committee, an international body responsible for monitoring the trade of animal species, highlighted Cambodia's well-coordinated customs and inspection procedures, which are integrated with a national single-window system. This approach ensures thorough inspections and documentation that promotes transparency in the breeding and trade of long-tailed macaques, an animal species that plays a crucial role in biomedicine.

Long-tailed macaques, known for their significant biological similarities to humans, are essential in various research fields including regenerative medicine, immunology, and cancer research. They are the most studied non-human primates for assessing drug safety, making their breeding and trade a matter of international significance. The report indicated that Cambodia has made strides in improving its legal framework, emphasizing traceability and aligning its practices with CITES procedures.

Historically, Cambodia has been a vital supplier of laboratory animal models to the United States. However, a decline in imports was noted due to allegations of illegal activities by certain interest groups in the U.S., which potentially jeopardized medical research in America. The limited availability of research models has impaired the ability of U.S. researchers to develop new treatments, highlighting the importance of re-establishing trade ties with Cambodia.

Matthew R. Bailey, President of the National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR), praised the CITES report affirming Cambodia's adherence to international laws and requirements. Bailey stated, “This report confirms Cambodia's compliance with regulations, indicating that much-needed animal research models can be sourced from this country.” He further expressed gratitude toward Cambodia for its openness and collaboration throughout the review process, signaling NABR's readiness to work alongside the U.S. and other nations on related matters.

The NABR, established in 1979, is the sole non-profit organization advocating for sound public policies regarding the humane use of animals in biomedical research, education, and testing. Its members include over 340 institutions, including universities, medical, and veterinary schools, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patient groups, and professional societies reliant on responsible animal research to enhance health worldwide. Learn more about NABR at nabr.org.

As the dialogue around animal research intensifies, the report from the CITES committee marks a pivotal moment. It not only underscores Cambodia's importance as a research model provider but also highlights the necessity of responsible breeding practices that align with global standards. The ongoing challenges in the field necessitate collaboration across borders to ensure continued progress in scientific research while upholding ethical standards in animal welfare.