Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge NIH to Tighten Oversight of Class A Breeders as $87 Million Alternatives Push Grows
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 27
Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge NIH to Tighten Oversight of Class A Breeders as $87 Million Alternatives Push Grows
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 27
A bipartisan group led by Rep. Mark Pocan asked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to make NIH look beyond USDA Class A certification when approving animal suppliers for NIH-funded research.
The letter points to Wisconsin beagle breeder Ridglan Farms, whose website still cites Class A status after it agreed in October to surrender its state breeding license following findings that some procedures likely violated veterinary standards.
Lawmakers said NIH officials have indicated Class A certification is the sole factor in those determinations, and argued state animal-welfare enforcement actions should also count.
The appeal aligns with Kennedy’s broader push to curb animal testing, including an $87 million NIH project on standardized alternatives and agency plans to reduce reliance on research animals.
That shift has drawn criticism from some researchers, who warn moving away from animal testing too quickly could slow medical advances.
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