HR5544-119

What This Bill Does

The Ejiao Act of 2025 targets the commercial supply chain for ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey skin and used in traditional medicine, beauty, cosmetic, and luxury products. Congress finds that global demand is about 8 million to 10 million skins per year, that China's annual supply is below 1.8 million, that China's donkey population has fallen 76 percent since 1992, and that the trade harms families in Africa and Latin America that rely on donkeys for farming, water transport, market access, construction, and school transportation. The bill makes it unlawful to knowingly import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase donkeys or donkey hides in U.S. interstate or foreign commerce for producing ejiao or products containing ejiao, and separately bans commerce in products containing ejiao, including internet sales. Violators face CBP civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, criminal penalties for knowing import/export or sale/purchase conduct, and forfeiture of donkeys, hides, ejiao products, and in felony cases vessels, vehicles, aircraft, and equipment used in the violation. CBP and the Secretary of the Interior enforce the Act, with support from Homeland Security, Agriculture, other federal agencies, state agencies, and Indian tribes. Authorized officers may carry firearms, make arrests, search and seize under applicable warrant rules, detain and inspect conveyances and containers, and use customs forfeiture procedures.

Who Benefits and How

Families relying on donkeys in vulnerable communities benefit because the U.S. market would no longer support ejiao demand tied to stolen or slaughtered working animals. Animal welfare organizations benefit from a federal commerce ban, penalties, forfeiture, and enforcement tools aimed at the donkey-skin trade. CBP enforcement officers benefit from explicit civil penalty, forfeiture, inspection, and customs-procedure authority for ejiao-related shipments. Plant-based gelatin suppliers benefit if manufacturers shift away from donkey-skin gelatin alternatives.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Ejiao product sellers must stop importing, exporting, selling, or purchasing ejiao products in U.S. commerce. Donkey-hide traders face civil penalties, criminal penalties, forfeiture, and seizure risk for covered conduct. Interior wildlife inspectors must help enforce the Act and coordinate with CBP and other agencies. Transportation carriers may face forfeiture exposure if vessels, vehicles, aircraft, or equipment are used in felony violations.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits U.S. commerce in donkeys or donkey hides for ejiao production and in products containing ejiao.
• Provides civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and criminal penalties for knowing import, export, sale, or purchase conduct.
• Requires forfeiture of covered animals, hides, products, and in felony cases conveyances and equipment used in violations.
• Authorizes CBP, Interior, Homeland Security, Agriculture, state agencies, and tribes to enforce the Act.
• Defines donkey, ejiao, import, and taken for enforcement purposes.