Congress moves to ban donkey-skin trade, protecting vulnerable African communities
H.R. 5544 — Ejiao Act of 2025 · Filed by Donald Beyer (D-VA) · 21 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 23, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill prohibits the import, export, sale, and purchase of donkeys, donkey hides, and products containing ejiao (a gelatin made from donkey skin used in traditional Chinese medicine and cosmetics) in the United States. It imposes civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and criminal penalties up to $20,000 and 5 years imprisonment for knowing violations, with enforcement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Interior.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward trade prohibition on a specific commodity (ejiao and donkey hides) justified by documented animal welfare and humanitarian harm. The findings establish that donkey populations are collapsing due to unsustainable demand, and that families in lower-income countries are harmed when donkeys are stolen or sold for short-term gain.
What the text implies
- The bill may create enforcement challenges at the retail level (online sales, small shipments) despite clear intent, potentially requiring significant CBP resource allocation to detect ejiao in cosmetic and supplement products.
- Forfeiture provisions (Section 5) apply without culpability requirements, meaning goods can be seized even in civil cases where intent is unclear, which may affect small importers or retailers unaware of ejiao content in products.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill protects vulnerable populations in Africa and Latin America whose livelihoods depend on donkeys, prevents animal cruelty at scale, and addresses a documented humanitarian crisis where millions of donkeys are slaughtered annually. U.S.