I believe that the user fees would be a good idea. If bringing in the primates pose a threat to humans, then the testing is essential for our health and safety. The government should not have to absorb the costs of the importers of the animals posing the risks.
From the looks of it, testing for the viruses can be costly and as the private sector has not been able to get the capabilities to do the testing, it is left to the government. It does not look like the proposed user fees would ultimately cost that much money for the importers to expend for testing.
The testing is required either way and having the fees will allow the government to continue to test the NHPs without taking a huge hit and ultimately not be able to do testing in the future. A user fee can help maintain the facilities and allow the CDC to test so any outbreak is less likely. I do not believe that it would ultimately be that burdensome and out-of-line to have the importers pay for the testing of animals that pose such a threat on human life.
Comment from Ian Fuller
This is comment on Proposed Rule
Establishment of User Fees for Filovirus Testing of Nonhuman Primate Liver Samples
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