The Ejiao Act of 2023 would ban the import, export, sale, and purchase of donkeys and donkey hides intended for producing ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey skin used in traditional Chinese medicine and luxury beauty products, as well as any products containing ejiao. The bill affects U.S. companies that currently import or sell ejiao products, with the United States ranking as the third-largest importer of ejiao globally at approximately twelve million dollars in annual imports. According to the legislation, the global demand for donkey skins dramatically exceeds supply, leading to the slaughter of millions of donkeys annually, particularly in Africa and Latin America, which decimates wild donkey populations and harms rural communities that depend on donkeys for farming, transportation, and livelihoods. Violations would be enforced by the Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Treasury, with civil penalties of up to ten thousand dollars per violation and criminal penalties of up to five years in prison and twenty thousand dollars in fines for violations involving imports or exports or items exceeding three hundred fifty dollars in value. The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines but authorizes federal enforcement agencies to seize and forfeit violating shipments, vehicles, and equipment.
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