Boston-based biotech giant Thermo Fisher Scientific has ceased the sale of its Human Identification (HID) DNA testing kits in occupied Tibet, effective December 31, 2023. The decision follows intense pressure from investors and Tibet rights campaigners concerned about the potential involvement of Thermo Fisher's products in human rights violations by Chinese authorities.

Activists have long contested Thermo Fisher's sales to the Chinese government, pointing to reports of non-consensual mass DNA collection targeting Tibetans, including children. This collection is part of China's broader repressive campaign against cultural diversity in Tibet, where speaking Tibetan or displaying the Tibetan flag can lead to arrest, detention, and torture.

Investors like Azzad Asset Management and Ambienta united with Tibet activists, urging Thermo Fisher to conduct human rights impact assessments. After engagements with stakeholders, Thermo Fisher pledged to discontinue HID product sales in Tibet, mirroring their earlier decision regarding the Uyghur Region. Campaigners applaud the move but remain skeptical, calling for increased transparency in the company's actions.