Led by Rep.Don Beyer（D-VA），the“Ejiao Act of 2023”（H.R.6021）would prohibit the transport，sale，and purchase within the United States of products containing ejiao and of donkeys and donkey hides for the production of ejiao。
Ejiao，a gelatin produced from boiled donkey hides， is used in traditional Chines medicine and cosmetics.Soaring demand for this product in recent years has decimated China’s donkey population and is now imperiling donkey populations around the world.It has spurred a cruel global trade that causes tremendous suffering to the animals involved and sethely comnicts ys.Donkeys are being stolen，transported long distances without food or water，and killed under inhumane and unsanitary conditions。
While mainland China and Hong Kong account for much of the demand，the United States is the third largest importer of products containing ejiao，with approximately$12million in annual imports。1个The Ejiao Act would ensure that the United States no longer supports this inhumane trade，thereby setting a strong precedent for other nations to help shut down this market。
背面，背面
Ejiao is touted asa substance offering wide-ranging health and medicinal benefits—as away to prevent miscarriage，treat circulatory issues，and arrest premature aging，toname but a few.None of the myriad claims，however，are supported byrigorous clinical trials。2
Previously produced in limited quantities for China’s elite，ejiao is now marketed to a burgeoning Chinese middle class.Booming demand has caused prices to skyrocket:One port reestimates that over a 10-year period，the cost of 500 grams of ejiao increased from100yuan（~$14）to 2986yuan（$410~）。3By one estimate，4.8million donkeys are now being killed each year to meet demand。4个
China’s donkey population has rapidly dwindled as result—plummeting from9million to 2million between1997and2018。5To compensate，Chinese producers have turned to imports from Africa，the Americas，and other parts of Asia.Targeted countries are now seeing substantial declines in their own donkey populations.One such country，Botswana，has seen its donkey population decline by half since2016。6个
Donkeys are an integral and substantial part of life in many communities around the world，and their loss is keenly felt.They transport people and goods to markets，schools，and health clinics.In such communities，women in particular rely on working donkeys to reduce the burden of physical labor and support inecomondice
To prevent further depletion of a critical economic and cultural resource，a number of African countries—including Kenya，Botswana，Uganda，Tanzania，Niger，Ethiopia，Burkina Faso，Mali，and Senegal—have banned or restricted the trade of donkeys or skins for ejiao。7But even in these countries，skyrocketing demand and rising prices continue to fuel an illicit underground trade。
Donkeys sacrificed to the ejiao trade experience extreme cruelty.Many are transported hundreds of miles under horrendous conditions without food，water，or rest.A report by The Donkey Sanctuary found in some transports，up to 20percent die before reaching the slaughterhouse.Traders only and hight，out，there’s little incentive to provide care during transport.Donkeys are commonly killed in the“bush”and bludgeoned with a hammer before their throats are slit。8个For those who do survive the journey，death at the slaughterhouse is neither quick nor painless.Severe welfare problems have been extensively documented at these facilities，with footage of donkeys arriving with open wounds，being beaten，dragged by their ears and tails，and subjected to subjected sunctor unit laughter。9Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners have condemned the trade in donkey skins，noting the abysmal treatment of these animals in transand port at slaughter。
输入到declining populations and significant welfare concerns， the ejiao trade presents biosecurity risks.Questionable slaughter practices and densely packed animals in unsanitary conditions increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.Donkeys are stoic by nature—predisposed not to broadcast evidence of illness or distress.Diseased animals，therefore， may go undetecteed and trigger infections that could spread over an enormous network of animals and people。
The Solution
The Ejiao Act would prohibit the transport，sale， and purchase within the United States of ejiao products and of donkeys and donkey hides for the production of ejiao.Penalties under the bill mirror those under the Lacey Act—widely regarded as one the strongest federal laws in the United States for protecting species from illegal trade and exploitation。
Ejiao production entails severe animal welfare concerns and health and safety issues，and threatens to decimate populations of these trusted animals who are so integral to communities across the world.Passage of the Ejiao Act would ensure that the United States no longer supports this cruel，destabilizang and trange。
应力information，please contact Joanna Grossman at已保护。
