Homeland Security Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
The Ejiao Act of 2025 seeks to prohibit the trade of donkeys, donkey hides, and products containing ejiao within the United States. Ejiao, a gelatin derived from donkey skins, is used in traditional Chinese medicine and other products, driving a demand that has severely impacted global donkey populations. This trade also harms impoverished communities worldwide that rely on donkeys for their livelihoods, including farming, transportation, and water collection. Specifically, the bill prohibits any person from knowingly importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing donkeys or donkey hides for ejiao production in interstate or foreign commerce. It also bans the same activities for any product containing ejiao. These prohibitions are intended to curb the U.S. contribution to the global ejiao trade, which currently makes the U.S. the third-largest importer of ejiao. Violations of this Act carry substantial penalties, including civil fines of up to $10,000 per offense and criminal penalties for more serious infractions. Criminal offenses involving import/export or transactions exceeding $350 in value can result in fines up to $20,000 or up to 5 years imprisonment , or both. The bill also mandates the forfeiture of illegally traded donkeys, hides, ejiao products, and even equipment used in criminal violations. Enforcement responsibilities are assigned to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Secretary of the Interior, who are authorized to make arrests, conduct searches, and seize prohibited items.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Ejiao Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-5544| House
| Updated: 9/23/2025
The Ejiao Act of 2025 seeks to prohibit the trade of donkeys, donkey hides, and products containing ejiao within the United States. Ejiao, a gelatin derived from donkey skins, is used in traditional Chinese medicine and other products, driving a demand that has severely impacted global donkey populations. This trade also harms impoverished communities worldwide that rely on donkeys for their livelihoods, including farming, transportation, and water collection. Specifically, the bill prohibits any person from knowingly importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing donkeys or donkey hides for ejiao production in interstate or foreign commerce. It also bans the same activities for any product containing ejiao. These prohibitions are intended to curb the U.S. contribution to the global ejiao trade, which currently makes the U.S. the third-largest importer of ejiao. Violations of this Act carry substantial penalties, including civil fines of up to $10,000 per offense and criminal penalties for more serious infractions. Criminal offenses involving import/export or transactions exceeding $350 in value can result in fines up to $20,000 or up to 5 years imprisonment , or both. The bill also mandates the forfeiture of illegally traded donkeys, hides, ejiao products, and even equipment used in criminal violations. Enforcement responsibilities are assigned to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Secretary of the Interior, who are authorized to make arrests, conduct searches, and seize prohibited items.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.