H.R. 7165 — WATCH Act

This section establishes quarterly inspection and certification requirements for foreign laboratories receiving NIH grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for animal research to ensure compliance with animal welfare assurances under 42 USC 289d(c)(1) (i.e., establishment and operation of animal care committees, semi-annual reviews of animal care and treatment, and record-keeping and reporting), effective 180 days after enactment. The Secretary, in consultation with the NIH Director, must designate an inspecting authority to conduct the inspections, issue public certifications of compliance via the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare for compliant labs, allow corrective action for non-compliant labs, and suspend or revoke funding if noncompliance persists. (Thus, foreign labs face more frequent oversight than the semi-annual internal reviews required of all funded research entities under current law.)