Sponsors (21)
Official title: To prohibit the transportation, sale, and purchase of donkeys or donkey hides for the purpose of producing ejiao, to prohibit the transportation, sale, and purchase of products containing ejiao, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 23, 2025 by Donald Sternoff Beyer · Last progress September 23, 2025
The bill strengthens U.S. enforcement to curb trade in donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao—helping protect animals and reduce illicit trafficking—while imposing substantial penalties, seizure powers, and compliance costs that could burden small businesses, consumers, local agencies, and raise civil‑liberties concerns.
Rural, donkey‑dependent communities abroad and global donkey populations will face reduced U.S. demand for ejiao and related donkey-hide products, helping protect animals and livelihoods from unsustainable slaughter.
U.S. consumers are less likely to purchase ejiao products derived from potentially inhumane or unsustainable practices, reducing ethical/health concerns associated with those products.
Customs, border, and federal law‑enforcement agencies gain stronger enforcement tools (civil fines, criminal penalties, seizure/forfeiture, detention and inspection authority), improving the U.S. ability to deter and interdict illegal trade in donkeys, hides, and ejiao products.
Small businesses, importers, retailers, online sellers, and some consumers face substantial criminal and civil exposure (fines up to $10,000 per violation, criminal penalties, and forfeiture), risking major financial losses and business disruption.
Consumers who use ejiao for cultural or medicinal reasons will lose lawful access in interstate and international markets and may be forced to seek substitutes or illegal sources.
Civil forfeiture and property‑forfeiture provisions risk owners losing vessels, vehicles, equipment, or goods without a criminal conviction, raising serious due‑process and civil‑liberties concerns and potential uncompensated losses.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Bans import/export/transport/sale/possession in U.S. interstate or foreign commerce of donkeys, donkey hides, and products containing ejiao, with civil/criminal penalties and forfeiture.
Prohibits the import, export, transport, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce of donkeys, donkey hides, and any product containing ejiao (a gelatin made from donkey skins). It creates civil and criminal penalties, seizure and forfeiture rules, and assigns enforcement authority mainly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Secretary of the Interior, with accompanying inspection, detention, and enforcement powers. The bill defines key terms (including a broad definition of “donkey” and “ejiao”), establishes penalty structures (civil fines up to $10,000 per violation and criminal penalties for knowing violations over specified values), and authorizes costs, rewards, and use of penalty/forfeiture receipts to cover temporary care of seized animals. It also clarifies that the Act does not alter Endangered Species Act protections for donkey species already listed as threatened or endangered.