16 USC 3372 - Prohibited acts

Collapse to view only § 3372. Prohibited acts

§ 3371. Definitions
§ 3372. Prohibited acts
§ 3373. Penalties and sanctions
§ 3374. Forfeiture
§ 3375. Enforcement
§ 3376. Administration
§ 3377. Exceptions
§ 3378. Miscellaneous provisions

§ 3371. DefinitionsFor the purposes of this chapter:

(a)Breed.—The term “breed” means to facilitate propagation or reproduction (whether intentionally or negligently), or to fail to prevent propagation or reproduction.

(b) The term “fish or wildlife” means any wild animal, whether alive or dead, including without limitation any wild mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, whether or not bred, hatched, or born in captivity, and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof.

(c) The term “import” means to land on, bring into, or introduce into, any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, whether or not such landing, bringing, or introduction constitutes an importation within the meaning of the customs laws of the United States.

(d) The term “Indian tribal law” means any regulation of, or other rule of conduct enforceable by, any Indian tribe, band, or group but only to the extent that the regulation or rule applies within Indian country as defined in section 1151 of title 18.

(e) The terms “law,” “treaty,” “regulation,” and “Indian tribal law” mean laws, treaties, regulations or Indian tribal laws which regulate the taking, possession, importation, exportation, transportation, or sale of fish or wildlife or plants.

(f) The term “person” includes any individual, partnership, association, corporation, trust, or any officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal Government or of any State or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(g)Plant.—

(1)In general.—The terms “plant” and “plants” mean any wild member of the plant kingdom, including roots, seeds, parts, or products thereof, and including trees from either natural or planted forest stands.

(2)Exclusions.—The terms “plant” and “plants” exclude—

(A) common cultivars, except trees, and common food crops (including roots, seeds, parts, or products thereof);

(B) a scientific specimen of plant genetic material (including roots, seeds, germplasm, parts, or products thereof) that is to be used only for laboratory or field research; and

(3)Exceptions to application of exclusions.—The exclusions made by subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2) do not apply if the plant is listed—

(A) in an appendix to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8249);

(B) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or

(C) pursuant to any State law that provides for the conservation of species that are indigenous to the State and are threatened with extinction.

(h)Prohibited Wildlife Species.—The term “prohibited wildlife species” means any live species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species.

(i) The term “Secretary” means, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as program responsibilities are vested pursuant to the provisions of Reorganization Plan Numbered 4 of 1970 (84 Stat. 2090); except that with respect to the provisions of this chapter which pertain to the importation or exportation of plants, the term also means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(j) The term “State” means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and any other territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States.

(k)Taken and Taking.—

(1)Taken.—The term “taken” means captured, killed, or collected and, with respect to a plant, also means harvested, cut, logged, or removed.

(2)Taking.—The term “taking” means the act by which fish, wildlife, or plants are taken.

(l) The term “transport” means to move, convey, carry, or ship by any means, or to deliver or receive for the purpose of movement, conveyance, carriage, or shipment.

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 2, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1073; Pub. L. 108–191, § 2, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2871; Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8204(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1291; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8204(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2052; Pub. L. 117–243, § 2(a), Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2336.)

§ 3372. Prohibited acts

(a) Offenses other than marking offensesIt is unlawful for any person—

(1) to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or in violation of any Indian tribal law;

(2) to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce—

(A) any fish or wildlife taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law or regulation of any State or in violation of any foreign law; or

(B) any plant—

(i) taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law or regulation of any State, or any foreign law, that protects plants or that regulates—(I) the theft of plants;(II) the taking of plants from a park, forest reserve, or other officially protected area;(III) the taking of plants from an officially designated area; or(IV) the taking of plants without, or contrary to, required authorization;

(ii) taken, possessed, transported, or sold without the payment of appropriate royalties, taxes, or stumpage fees required for the plant by any law or regulation of any State or any foreign law; or

(iii) taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any limitation under any law or regulation of any State, or under any foreign law, governing the export or transshipment of plants;

(3) within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18)—

(A) to possess any fish or wildlife taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law or regulation of any State or in violation of any foreign law or Indian tribal law, or

(B) to possess any plant—

(ii) taken, possessed, transported, or sold without the payment of appropriate royalties, taxes, or stumpage fees required for the plant by any law or regulation of any State or any foreign law; or

(iii) taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any limitation under any law or regulation of any State, or under any foreign law, governing the export or transshipment of plants; or

(4) to attempt to commit any act described in paragraphs (1) through (3) or subsection (e).

(b) Marking offenses

(1) SaleIt is deemed to be a sale of fish or wildlife in violation of this chapter for a person for money or other consideration to offer or provide—

(A) guiding, outfitting, or other services; or

(B) a hunting or fishing license or permit;

for the illegal taking, acquiring, receiving, transporting, or possessing of fish or wildlife.

(2) PurchaseIt is deemed to be a purchase of fish or wildlife in violation of this chapter for a person to obtain for money or other consideration—

(A) guiding, outfitting, or other services; or

(B) a hunting or fishing license or permit;

for the illegal taking, acquiring, receiving, transporting, or possessing of fish or wildlife.

(d) False labeling offensesIt is unlawful for any person to make or submit any false record, account, or label for, or any false identification of, any fish, wildlife, or plant which has been, or is intended to be—

(1) imported, exported, transported, sold, purchased, or received from any foreign country; or

(2) transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

(e) Captive wildlife offense

(1) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (2), it is unlawful for any person to—

(A) import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, or in a manner substantially affecting interstate or foreign commerce; or

(B) breed or possess;

any prohibited wildlife species.

(2) Limitation on applicationParagraph (1) does not apply to—

(A) an entity exhibiting animals to the public under a Class C license from the Department of Agriculture, or a Federal facility registered with the Department of Agriculture that exhibits animals, if such entity or facility holds such license or registration in good standing and if the entity or facility—

(i) does not allow any individual to come into direct physical contact with a prohibited wildlife species, unless that individual is—(I) a trained professional employee or contractor of the entity or facility (or an accompanying employee receiving professional training);(II) a licensed veterinarian (or a veterinary student accompanying such a veterinarian); or(III) directly supporting conservation programs of the entity or facility, the contact is not in the course of commercial activity (which may be evidenced by advertisement or promotion of such activity or other relevant evidence), and the contact is incidental to humane husbandry conducted pursuant to a species-specific, publicly available, peer-edited population management and care plan that has been provided to the Secretary with justifications that the plan—(aa) reflects established conservation science principles;(bb) incorporates genetic and demographic analysis of a multi-institution population of animals covered by the plan; and(cc) promotes animal welfare by ensuring that the frequency of breeding is appropriate for the species; and

(ii) ensures that during public exhibition of a lion (Panthera leo), tiger (Panthera tigris), leopard (Panthera pardus), snow leopard (Uncia uncia), jaguar (Panthera onca), cougar (Puma concolor), or any hybrid thereof, the animal is at least 15 feet from members of the public unless there is a permanent barrier sufficient to prevent public contact;

(B) a State college, university, or agency, or a State-licensed veterinarian;

(i) is a corporation that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of title 26 and described in sections 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of such title;

(ii) does not commercially trade in any prohibited wildlife species, including offspring, parts, and byproducts of such animals;

(iii) does not breed any prohibited wildlife species;

(iv) does not allow direct contact between the public and any prohibited wildlife species; and

(v) does not allow the transportation and display of any prohibited wildlife species off-site;

(D) has custody of any prohibited wildlife species solely for the purpose of expeditiously transporting the prohibited wildlife species to a person described in this paragraph with respect to the species; or

(E) an entity or individual that is in possession of any prohibited wildlife species that was born before December 20, 2022, and—

(i) not later than 180 days after December 20, 2022, the entity or individual registers each individual animal of each prohibited wildlife species possessed by the entity or individual with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

(ii) does not breed, acquire, or sell any prohibited wildlife species after December 20, 2022; and

(iii) does not allow direct contact between the public and prohibited wildlife species.

(f) Plant declarations

(1) Import declarationEffective 180 days from the date of enactment of this subsection, and except as provided in paragraph (3), it shall be unlawful for any person to import any plant unless the person files upon importation a declaration that contains—

(A) the scientific name of any plant (including the genus and species of the plant) contained in the importation;

(B) a description of—

(i) the value of the importation; and

(ii) the quantity, including the unit of measure, of the plant; and

(2) Declaration relating to plant productsUntil the date on which the Secretary promulgates a regulation under paragraph (6), a declaration relating to a plant product shall—

(A) in the case in which the species of plant used to produce the plant product that is the subject of the importation varies, and the species used to produce the plant product is unknown, contain the name of each species of plant that may have been used to produce the plant product;

(B) in the case in which the species of plant used to produce the plant product that is the subject of the importation is commonly taken from more than one country, and the country from which the plant was taken and used to produce the plant product is unknown, contain the name of each country from which the plant may have been taken; and

(C) in the case in which a paper or paperboard plant product includes recycled plant product, contain the average percent recycled span without regard for the species or country of origin of the recycled plant product, in addition to the information for the non-recycled plant span otherwise required by this subsection.

(3) Exclusions

(4) Review

(5) ReportNot later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary completes the review under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing—

(A) an evaluation of—

(i) the effectiveness of each type of information required under paragraphs (1) and (2) in assisting enforcement of this section; and

(ii) the potential to harmonize each requirement imposed by paragraphs (1) and (2) with other applicable import regulations in existence as of the date of the report;

(B) recommendations for such legislation as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to assist in the identification of plants that are imported into the United States in violation of this section; and

(i) the cost of legal plant imports; and

(ii) the extent and methodology of illegal logging practices and trafficking.

(6) Promulgation of regulationsNot later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary completes the review under paragraph (4), the Secretary may promulgate regulations—

(A) to limit the applicability of any requirement imposed by paragraph (2) to specific plant products;

(B) to make any other necessary modification to any requirement imposed by paragraph (2), as determined by the Secretary based on the review; and

(C) to limit the scope of the exclusion provided by paragraph (3), if the limitations in scope are warranted as a result of the review.

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 3, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1074; Pub. L. 100–653, title I, § 101, Nov. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 3825; Pub. L. 108–191, § 3(a), Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2871; Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8204(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1292; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8204(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2053; Pub. L. 117–243, § 3, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2336.)

§ 3373. Penalties and sanctions

(a) Civil penalties

(1) Any person who engages in conduct prohibited by any provision of this chapter (other than subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) of section 3372 of this title) and in the exercise of due care should know that the fish or wildlife or plants were taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of, or in a manner unlawful under, any underlying law, treaty, or regulation, and any person who knowingly violates subsection (d), (e), or (f) of section 3372 of this title, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $10,000 for each such violation: Provided, That when the violation involves fish or wildlife or plants with a market value of less than $350, and involves only the transportation, acquisition, or receipt of fish or wildlife or plants taken or possessed in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States, any Indian tribal law, any foreign law, or any law or regulation of any State, the penalty assessed shall not exceed the maximum provided for violation of said law, treaty, or regulation, or $10,000, whichever is less.

(2) Any person who violates subsection (b) or (f) of section 3372 of this title, except as provided in paragraph (1), may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $250.

(3) For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), any reference to a provision of this chapter or to a section of this chapter shall be treated as including any regulation issued to carry out any such provision or section.

(4) No civil penalty may be assessed under this subsection unless the person accused of the violation is given notice and opportunity for a hearing with respect to the violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense and the offense shall be deemed to have been committed not only in the district where the violation first occurred, but also in any district in which a person may have taken or been in possession of the said fish or wildlife or plants.

(5) Any civil penalty assessed under this subsection may be remitted or mitigated by the Secretary.

(6) In determining the amount of any penalty assessed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary shall take into account the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited act committed, and with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, ability to pay, and such other matters as justice may require.

(b) Hearings

(d) Criminal penalties

(1) Any person who—

(A) knowingly imports or exports any fish or wildlife or plants in violation of any provision of this chapter (other than subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) of section 3372 of this title), or

(B) violates any provision of this chapter (other than subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) of section 3372 of this title) by knowingly engaging in conduct that involves the sale or purchase of, the offer of sale or purchase of, or the intent to sell or purchase, fish or wildlife or plants with a market value in excess of $350,

knowing that the fish or wildlife or plants were taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of, or in a manner unlawful under, any underlying law, treaty or regulation, shall be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. Each violation shall be a separate offense and the offense shall be deemed to have been committed not only in the district where the violation first occurred, but also in any district in which the defendant may have taken or been in possession of the said fish or wildlife or plants.

(2) Any person who knowingly engages in conduct prohibited by any provision of this chapter (other than subsections (b), (d), (e), and (f) of section 3372 of this title) and in the exercise of due care should know that the fish or wildlife or plants were taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of, or in a manner unlawful under, any underlying law, treaty or regulation shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. Each violation shall be a separate offense and the offense shall be deemed to have been committed not only in the district where the violation first occurred, but also in any district in which the defendant may have taken or been in possession of the said fish or wildlife or plants.

(3) Any person who knowingly violates subsection (d) or (f) of section 3372 of this title—

(A) shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, if the offense involves—

(i) the importation or exportation of fish or wildlife or plants; or

(ii) the sale or purchase, offer of sale or purchase, or commission of an act with intent to sell or purchase fish or wildlife or plants with a market value greater than $350; and

(B) shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, if the offense does not involve conduct described in subparagraph (A).

(4) Any person who knowingly violates section 3372(e) of this title shall be fined not more than $20,000, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. Each violation shall be a separate offense and the offense is deemed to have been committed in the district where the violation first occurred, and in any district in which the defendant may have taken or been in possession of the prohibited wildlife species.

(e) Permit sanctions

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 4, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1074; Pub. L. 100–653, title I, §§ 102, 103, Nov. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 3825, 3826; Pub. L. 110–234, title VII, § 8204(c), (f), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1294; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8204(c), (f), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2055, 2056; Pub. L. 117–243, § 4, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2338.)

§ 3374. Forfeiture

(a) In general

(1) All fish or wildlife or plants bred, possessed, imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired, or purchased contrary to the provisions of section 3372 of this title (other than section 3372(b) of this title), or any regulation issued pursuant thereto, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States notwithstanding any culpability requirements for civil penalty assessment or criminal prosecution included in section 3373 of this title.

(2) All vessels, vehicles, aircraft, and other equipment used to aid in the importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring, or purchasing of fish or wildlife or plants in a criminal violation of this chapter for which a felony conviction is obtained shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States if (A) the owner of such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or equipment was at the time of the alleged illegal act a consenting party or privy thereto or in the exercise of due care should have known that such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or equipment would be used in a criminal violation of this chapter, and (B) the violation involved the sale or purchase of, the offer of sale or purchase of, or the intent to sell or purchase, fish or wildlife or plants.

(b) Application of customs laws

(d) Civil forfeitures

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 5, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1076; Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8204(d), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1294; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8204(d), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2056; Pub. L. 117–243, § 5, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2338.)

§ 3375. Enforcement

(a) In general

(b) Powers

(d) Rewards and certain incidental expenses

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 6, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1077; Pub. L. 98–327, § 4, June 25, 1984, 98 Stat. 271; Pub. L. 100–653, title I, § 104, Nov. 14, 1988, 102 Stat. 3826; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

§ 3376. Administration

(a) Regulations

(1) The Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, is authorized to issue such regulations, except as provided in paragraph (2), as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 3372(f), 3373, and 3374 of this title.

(2) The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce shall jointly promulgate specific regulations to implement the provisions of section 3372(b) of this title for the marking and labeling of containers or packages containing fish or wildlife. These regulations shall be in accordance with existing commercial practices.

(3) The Secretary shall, in consultation with other relevant Federal and State agencies, promulgate any regulations necessary to implement section 3372(e) of this title.

(b) Contract authority

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 7, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1078; Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8204(e), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1294; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8204(e), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2056; Pub. L. 117–243, §§ 2(b)(2), 6, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2336, 2338.)

§ 3377. Exceptions

(a) Activities regulated by plan under Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

(b) Activities regulated by Tuna Convention Acts; harvesting of highly migratory species taken on high seas

The provisions of paragraphs (1), (2)(A), and (3)(A) of section 3372(a) of this title shall not apply to—

(1) any activity regulated by the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (16 U.S.C. 951–961) or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971–971(h) 1

1 So in original. Probably was meant to be “971–971h”.

); or

(2) any activity involving the harvesting of highly migratory species (as defined in paragraph (14) of section 3 2

2 See References in Text note below.

of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act [16 U.S.C. 1802(14)]) taken on the high seas (as defined in paragraph (13) of such section 3) if such species are taken in violation of the laws of a foreign nation and the United States does not recognize the jurisdiction of the foreign nation over such species.

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 8, Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1078.)

§ 3378. Miscellaneous provisions

(a) Effect on powers of States

(b) Repeals

The following provisions of law are repealed:

(1) The Act of May 20, 1926 (commonly known as the Black Bass Act; 16 U.S.C. 851–856).

(2)Section 667e of this title and sections 43 and 44 of title 18 (commonly known as provisions of the Lacey Act).

(3) Sections 3054 and 3112 of title 18.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as—

(1) repealing, superseding, or modifying any provision of Federal law other than those specified in subsection (b);

(2) repealing, superseding, or modifying any right, privilege, or immunity granted, reserved, or established pursuant to treaty, statute, or executive order pertaining to any Indian tribe, band, or community; or

(3) enlarging or diminishing the authority of any State or Indian tribe to regulate the activities of persons within Indian reservations.

(d) Travel and transportation expenses

(e) Interior appropriations budget proposal

(Pub. L. 97–79, § 9(a)–(c), (g), (h), Nov. 16, 1981, 95 Stat. 1079, 1080.)