This bill amends the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to add a definition for "prohibited primate species" and to ban many activities with those primates. "Prohibited primate species" covers live nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, lemurs, lorises, monkeys, orangutans, tarsiers, galagos, and hybrids. The bill makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or buy these primates in interstate or foreign commerce, and it generally bans breeding or possession of them.
The bill creates limited exceptions. An entity or person transporting a prohibited primate for the purpose of quickly moving it to an approved holder is exempt. People or entities who already possess a prohibited primate born before the bill’s enactment may keep the animal only if they register each animal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within 180 days, do not breed, acquire, or sell such animals after enactment, and do not allow direct public contact. Registered research facilities that hold a valid Department of Agriculture registration may continue research involving prohibited primates.
The Secretary of the Interior must issue implementing regulations within 180 days, but enforcement of the new rules does not depend on timely issuance of those regulations. The bill also makes minor technical corrections to existing statute language.
No publicly available information on federal costs, fees, or budget effects in the bill text provided.
No publicly available information on proponents' stated views in the bill text provided.
No publicly available information on opponents' stated views in the bill text provided.