Researchers urge federal government to halt macaque imports to Quebec for medical research
A group of researchers and environmentalists in Canada, led by prominent figure David Suzuki, are calling on the federal government to put a stop to the importation of endangered long-tailed macaques from Cambodia for medical research purposes in Quebec. This plea comes amidst ethical concerns and potential public-health risks associated with testing on these primates.
In a letter signed by 80 scientists, academics, doctors, and students, it is emphasized that using live primates for experimentation is no longer justifiable from scientific, ethical, and financial perspectives. The researchers raise alarms about the risks of transmitting zoonotic pathogens through the transportation of macaques and urge the government to ban the importation of all primates for biomedical testing.
The pressure on Ottawa to suspend the monkey imports intensified after Charles River Laboratories, a pharmaceutical giant with operations in Montreal, announced a halt to macaque imports into the U.S. following a legal case involving senior Cambodian officials. Despite the surge in monkey imports to Canada, both the government and the company maintain that all imports have complied with wildlife regulations.
Last month, the Canadian Transportation Authority issued a permit for another shipment of macaques chartered by Charles River Laboratories. The flight carrying the primates departed from Cambodia and arrived in Montreal, sparking further concerns among activists and researchers.
Jesse Greener, a chemistry professor at Université Laval and a signatory of the letter to the government, asserts that advancements in medical technology render the use of live primates in testing unjustifiable. He advocates for a shift towards more efficient and ethical research methods, emphasizing the need for the pharmaceutical industry to embrace these alternatives.
While Canada banned the use of animals for cosmetic testing, live primates are still legally used for drug testing purposes. The federal government has drafted a strategy to reduce and replace animal testing in drug development, with input from stakeholders expected to shape the final policy.
Charles River Laboratories maintains its commitment to reducing the use of live primates but cites global regulatory requirements mandating animal testing before human trials. The company defends the importance of non-human primates in drug development and asserts that its facilities adhere to high standards surpassing global norms.
Matthew Green, an NDP MP, and the Animal Alliance of Canada have also voiced concerns over the importation of macaques from Cambodia, calling for immediate government action to address the issue. As the debate continues, the fate of these primates and the future of animal testing in Canada hang in the balance.
