Ejiao Act of 2025
The Ejiao Act of 2025 would ban the transportation, sale, and purchase of donkeys or donkey hides for producing ejiao, and would ban the import, export, or sale of any product containing ejiao in the United States. It seeks to curb the global donkey skin trade, which the bill’s sponsors describe as decimating donkey populations and harming vulnerable communities that rely on donkeys for farming, transport, and livelihoods. The bill adds civil and criminal penalties, authorizes seizure and forfeiture of donkeys, hides, and ejiao-containing products, and assigns enforcement to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of the Interior (with cross-agency collaboration). It provides a framework for implementation, including border inspections, warrants, and potential rewards for information leading to enforcement. In short, it aims to reduce demand for ejiao in the U.S. and protect donkeys and dependent communities, potentially affecting U.S. consumers and international trade in ejiao-related products.
Key Points
- 1Prohibitions on donkeys and donkey hides for ejiao and on any product containing ejiao in U.S. commerce.
- 2Civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation; criminal penalties up to $20,000 and/or up to 5 years’ imprisonment for high-value violations (over $350) or up to 1 year for other prohibited conduct; each item or product can be a separate offense.
- 3Forfeiture authority: forfeiture of donkeys, donkey hides, and ejiao-containing products/imported goods, plus equipment used to commit violations; storage costs and related procedures outlined.
- 4Enforcement and border powers: CBP and the Secretary of the Interior to enforce, with cross-agency cooperation; enforceable at and beyond the border, including detentions, searches, warrants, and arrest authority in certain circumstances.
- 5Definitions and scope: Defines donkey and ejiao, clarifies import as used under the Tariff Act, and notes that the act does not alter any existing protections under the Endangered Species Act. The act’s short title is the “Ejiao Act of 2025,” and it includes findings on the global donkey trade, populations, and impacts on communities.