United States Code Annotated Currentness. Title 19. Customs Duties. Chapter 4. Tariff Act of
1930. Subtitle II. Special Provisions. Part I. Miscellaneous. § 1308. Prohibition on
importation of dog and cat fur products.

Citation: 19 U.S.C.A. § 1308

Citation: 19 USCA § 1308

Summary:
This federal statute prohibits commerce in dog or cat fur. Specifically, the statute forbids
import into, or export from, the United States of any dog or cat fur product; or the
introduction into interstate commerce, manufacture for introduction into interstate commerce,
sell, trade, or advertise in interstate commerce, offer to sell, or transport or distribute in
interstate commerce in the United States, any dog or cat fur product. The exception under the
act is for the importation, exportation, or transportation, for noncommercial purposes, of a
personal pet that is deceased, including a pet preserved through taxidermy.

Statute in Full:
(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Cat fur

The term "cat fur" means the pelt or skin of any animal of the species Felis catus.

(2) Interstate commerce

The term "interstate commerce" means the transportation for sale, trade, or use between any
State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place
outside thereof.

(3) Customs laws

The term "customs laws of the United States" means any other law or regulation enforced or
administered by the United States Customs Service.

(4) Designated authority

The term "designated authority" means the Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to the
prohibitions under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, and the President (or the President's
designee), with respect to the prohibitions under subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section.

(5) Dog fur

The term "dog fur" means the pelt or skin of any animal of the species Canis familiaris.

(6) Dog or cat fur product

The term "dog or cat fur product" means any item of merchandise which consists, or is composed
in whole or in part, of any dog fur, cat fur, or both.

(7) Person

The term "person" includes any individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization,
business trust, government entity, or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States.

(8) United States

The term "United States" means the customs territory of the United States, as defined in
general note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.

(b) Prohibitions

(1) In general

It shall be unlawful for any person to--

(A) import into, or export from, the United States any dog or cat fur product; or

(B) introduce into interstate commerce, manufacture for introduction into interstate commerce,
sell, trade, or advertise in interstate commerce, offer to sell, or transport or distribute in
interstate commerce in the United States, any dog or cat fur product.

(2) Exception

This subsection shall not apply to the importation, exportation, or transportation, for
noncommercial purposes, of a personal pet that is deceased, including a pet preserved through
taxidermy.

(c) Penalties and enforcement

(1) Civil penalties

(A) In general

Any person who violates any provision of this section or any regulation issued under this
section may, in addition to any other civil or criminal penalty that may be imposed under Title
18 or any other provision of law, be assessed a civil penalty by the designated authority of not
more than--

(i) $10,000 for each separate knowing and intentional violation;

(ii) $5,000 for each separate grossly negligent violation; or

(iii) $3,000 for each separate negligent violation.

(B) Debarment

The designated authority may prohibit a person from importing, exporting, transporting,
distributing, manufacturing, or selling any fur product in the United States, if the designated
authority finds that the person has engaged in a pattern or practice of actions that has
resulted in a final administrative determination with respect to the assessment of civil
penalties for knowing and intentional or grossly negligent violations of any provision of this
section or any regulation issued under this section.

© Factors in assessing penalties

In determining the amount of civil penalties under this paragraph, the designated authority
shall take into account the degree of culpability, any history of prior violations under this
section, ability to pay, the seriousness of the violation, and such other matters as fairness
may require.

(D) Notice

No penalty may be assessed under this paragraph against a person unless the person is given
notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to such violation in accordance with section
554 of Title 5.

(2) Forfeiture

Any dog or cat fur product manufactured, taken, possessed, sold, purchased, offered for sale or
purchase, transported, delivered, received, carried, shipped, imported, or exported contrary to
the provisions of this section or any regulation issued under this section shall be subject to
forfeiture to the United States.

(3) Enforcement

The Secretary of the Treasury shall enforce the provisions of this section with respect to the
prohibitions under subsection (b)(1)(A), and the President shall enforce the provisions of this
section with respect to the prohibitions under subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section.

(4) Regulations

Not later than 270 days after November 9, 2000, the designated authorities shall, after notice
and opportunity for comment, issue regulations to carry out the provisions of this section. The
regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide for a process by which testing
laboratories, whether domestic or foreign, can qualify for certification by the United States
Customs Service by demonstrating the reliability of the procedures used for determining the type
of fur contained in articles intended for sale or consumption in interstate commerce. Use of a
laboratory certified by the United States Customs Service to determine the nature of fur
contained in an item to which subsection (b) of this section applies is not required to avoid
liability under this section but may, in a case in which a person can establish that the goods
imported were tested by such a laboratory and that the item was not found to be a dog or cat fur
product, prove dispositive in determining whether that person exercised reasonable care for
purposes of paragraph (6).

(5) Reward

The designated authority shall pay a reward of not less than $500 to any person who furnishes
information that establishes or leads to a civil penalty assessment, debarment, or forfeiture of
property for any violation of this section or any regulation issued under this section.

(6) Affirmative defense

Any person accused of a violation under this section has a defense to any proceeding brought
under this section on account of such violation if that person establishes by a preponderance of
the evidence that the person exercised reasonable care--

(A) in determining the nature of the products alleged to have resulted in such violation; and

(B) in ensuring that the products were accompanied by documentation, packaging, and labeling
that were accurate as to the nature of the products.

(7) Coordination with other laws

Nothing in this section shall be construed as superseding or limiting in any manner the
functions and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Treasury under the customs laws of the
United States.

(d) Publication of names of certain violators

The designated authorities shall, at least once each year, publish in the Federal Register a
list of the names of any producer, manufacturer, supplier, seller, importer, or exporter,
whether or not located within the customs territory of the United States or subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, against whom a final administrative determination with
respect to the assessment of a civil penalty for a knowing and intentional or a grossly
negligent violation has been made under this section.

(e) Reports

In order to enable Congress to engage in active, continuing oversight of this section, the
designated authorities shall provide the following:

(1) Plan for enforcement

Within 3 months after November 9, 2000, the designated authorities shall submit to Congress a
plan for the enforcement of the provisions of this section, including training and procedures to
ensure that United States Government personnel are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies
to identify potential dog or cat fur products and to determine the true content of such
products.

(2) Report on enforcement efforts

Not later than 1 year after November 9, 2000, and on an annual basis thereafter, the designated
authorities shall submit a report to Congress on the efforts of the United States Government to
enforce the provisions of this section and the adequacy of the resources to do so. The report
shall include an analysis of the training of United States Government personnel to identify dog
and cat fur products effectively and to take appropriate action to enforce this section. The
report shall include the findings of the designated authorities as to whether any government has
engaged in a pattern or practice of support for trade in products the importation of which are
prohibited under this section.

CREDIT(S)

(June 17, 1930, c. 497, Title III, § 308, as added Nov. 9, 2000, Pub.L. 106-476, Title I, §
1443(a), 114 Stat. 2164.)