The US House of Representatives has taken a decisive step towards tightening biosecurity measures, voting 306-81 on September 9, 2024, to approve the US Biosecure Act, specifically the version known as H.R. 8333. This legislation, previously endorsed by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, mandates that any company receiving US federal funding must cease collaborations with a specified list of Chinese entities, including BGI, MGI, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, and WuXi Bio. The bill, as amended, offers a grace period of up to 8 years—until the end of 2032—for affected companies to adjust their operations.
In response to the development, WuXi Bio has expressed concerns about the uncertainties that persist as the bill moves towards finalization, highlighting that the “Draft Bill must still pass through the US Senate and could undergo further revisions during the legislative process.” The company also noted the unclear path ahead in the Senate.
WuXi AppTec has reiterated its disagreement with the ‘company of concern’ designation, deeming it “preemptive and unjustified,” and asserting that “WuXi AppTec has not, does not, and will not pose a security risk to the United States or any other country.”
While two versions of the Biosecure Act are under consideration in both chambers of Congress, both the House and the Senate must pass identical versions for the bill to proceed to the president for final approval. Legal experts from Sidley have suggested that the bill may face more significant challenges in the US Senate compared to the House of Representatives. – Flcube.com
