PRIMATE Act

The PRIMATE Act (Preventing Risky Importation of Monkeys to Avoid Toxic Exposures Act) was introduced on April 23, 2026, by Rep. Steube (R-FL) and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. The bill amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the importation of nonhuman primates into the United States, with a narrow exception for AZA-accredited facilities that certify the primates will not be used in experiments or testing. There is no funding authorization or appropriation in this bill; it is a regulatory prohibition enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation. No related signals or procurement data were provided, so no convergence analysis is possible. The bill's primary market impact is on the biomedical research sector, specifically contract research organizations (CROs) that import nonhuman primates for drug development and toxicity testing. Charles River Laboratories ($CRL) and Inotiv are the two largest publicly traded CROs with significant primate importation and breeding operations. If enacted, the bill would create supply constraints, increase costs, and potentially delay research projects, reducing revenue for these companies. The bill is in the earliest legislative stage; it has 7 cosponsors from both parties, indicating some bipartisan support, but it must clear the Ways and Means Committee, pass the House, and then the Senate. Legislative progress is likely slow, and the bill's ultimate passage is uncertain.