Canadian Researchers Call for Ban on Macaque Imports for Testing

Concerns over ethical issues and zoonotic disease risks prompt demands to halt primate imports for research in Quebec.

A group of 80 Canadian scientists, including David Suzuki, have urged the federal government to stop importing endangered macaques from Cambodia for medical research.
The researchers highlight ethical concerns and the potential transmission of zoonotic diseases as key reasons for their opposition.
Charles River Laboratories, the company importing the macaques, halted similar imports to the U.S. following a legal investigation but continues in Canada.
Statistics show a 500% increase in macaque imports to Canada in 2023, with over 6,700 monkeys brought in by August 2024.
The Canadian government is developing a strategy to reduce animal testing, with public consultations ending soon and a final plan expected by June 2025.