CITES Standing Committee Reviews Cambodia's Long-Tailed Macaque Breeding Practices

On November 20, 2025, the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Standing Committee issued a comprehensive review of the breeding practices for long-tailed macaques in Cambodia. This review, which comes ahead of an upcoming meeting of the committee, has highlighted the significant steps taken by Cambodia in ensuring animal welfare and compliance with international regulations. The report was made publicly available online, reflecting ongoing efforts to maintain transparency in the international wildlife trade.

The evaluation lauded Cambodia for its extensive data provision and collaborative spirit throughout the assessment process. The report emphasizes that the country's customs and inspection procedures are well-coordinated and integrated into a national single-window system. This approach supports both transparency and accountability in the breeding and exportation of long-tailed macaques, which are vital for biomedical research globally. The review also acknowledged Cambodia's commitment to enhancing its legislative framework, improving traceability, and aligning with CITES practices.

Long-tailed macaques are crucial to biomedical research due to their close biological similarities to humans. They are the second most studied primate species after humans, specifically for drug safety assessments. Research using long-tailed macaques is critical in advancing regenerative medicine, immunology, cancer research, vaccine development, and pharmacology. Consequently, the status of Cambodia as a supplier of these primates is significant for researchers seeking to develop new treatments.

Historically, Cambodia was a leading provider of animal models for research purposes in the United States. However, allegations of illegal activities by interest groups in the US led to a sharp decline in imports from the country. This reduction in the availability of research models has had serious implications for medical research in the US, limiting the options available to American researchers in developing groundbreaking treatments.

Matthew R. Bailey, the President of NABR (National Association for Biomedical Research), expressed optimism in light of the CITES report. He stated, "We welcome the latest findings from CITES, which confirm that Cambodia is in compliance with international laws and requirements. This report validates that we can source animal models from Cambodia, which is crucial for US medical research needs."

Bailey also thanked Cambodia for its transparency and cooperation during the review process, expressing NABR's readiness to continue collaborating with the US and other nations in the future. The commitment from Cambodia not only supports the importance of ethical animal research practices but also emphasizes its role in global public health advancement.

As the NABR continues to work alongside universities, medical and veterinary schools, hospitals, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patient groups, and other stakeholders in the biomedical field, this cooperation could pave the way for further improvements in animal welfare and research practices. The organization's focus on humane and responsible use of animals in research aims to elevate global health standards, benefiting not only humans but also animal welfare standards worldwide.

For more information about NABR and its mission, please visit NABR website.