The Worldwide Animal Testing Compliance and Harmonization Act of 2025 (WATCH Act) would amend the Public Health Service Act to require foreign laboratories that receive U.S. federal funds for research involving animals to undergo quarterly inspections to verify compliance with U.S. animal welfare requirements. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in coordination with NIH and other relevant bodies) would establish a process to inspect laboratories with an Animal Welfare Assurance, issue compliance certifications after each inspection, and publish those certificates publicly. Laboratories that fail to correct deficiencies could have their federal support suspended or revoked. The act also directs coordination with foreign authorities and sets an effective date 180 days after enactment. In short, the bill extends U.S. animal welfare oversight to foreign labs funded by U.S. agencies, introduces regular external inspections, publicly shares compliance status, and provides enforcement tools to withdraw funding from noncompliant facilities.
Key Points
- 1Applies to foreign laboratories outside the United States that receive U.S. federal funds for animal research and are eligible to perform such research under NIH grants/contracts.
- 2Quarterly inspections: The Secretary (in consultation with foreign regulators and international bodies) must establish a process for quarterly inspections of foreign labs that have an Animal Welfare Assurance, to ensure ongoing compliance with U.S. animal welfare requirements (including establishment of animal care committees, evaluation of animal care and treatment, and proper record-keeping/reporting).
- 3Certification and public access: After each inspection, a certification of compliance is issued for facilities found in compliance. These certificates are publicly accessible through the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, alongside other Animal Welfare Assurance information, and laboratories with deficiencies can be given time to correct them.
- 4Enforcement: If a foreign facility is noncompliant and does not take corrective action, the Secretary can suspend or revoke the related grant, contract, or cooperative agreement for animal research, following NIH-directed procedures.
- 5Authority and cooperation: The Secretary designates an inspecting authority to perform quarterly inspections and issue certifications, and coordinates with foreign authorities, potentially entering agreements with foreign governments to facilitate implementation while respecting sovereignty.
- 6Effective date: The changes take effect 180 days after enactment.