Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Animals
Why This Matters
This bill amends a federal wildlife law to ban most trade, breeding, and ownership of live nonhuman primates. It also sets rules for existing primate owners and registered research facilities.
Who this affects
People breeding nonhuman primates · Businesses selling nonhuman primates · Transporters of nonhuman primates · Owners of nonhuman primates
What changes is this bill making?
1Adds a definition for prohibited primate species that includes chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, lemurs, and other nonhuman primates.
2Makes it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, purchase, breed, or possess any prohibited primate species, with limited exceptions.
3Exempts entities or individuals who transport primates to approved recipients, existing owners who register each animal within 180 days, and research facilities registered with the Department of Agriculture.
4Requires existing owners to register each prohibited primate species animal within 180 days of enactment, stop breeding or trading after that date, and prevent direct public contact.
5Directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue rules implementing these changes within 180 days and states that enforcement is not delayed by any rulemaking timetable.
6Makes technical fixes to the underlying law, including correcting spelling errors and updating references to other wildlife statutes.
