Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§1423a Prohibitions

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 31— - MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VI— - POLAR BEARS › § 1423a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

People under U.S. law, or anyone on lands or in waters controlled by the United States, must not take polar bears in ways that break the Agreement or the Commission’s limits and rules under that Agreement. They also must not buy, sell, import, export, possess, transport, or offer trade in polar bears or their parts if those bears were taken illegally. Selling or importing polar bear gallbladders or gall bile is banned. Trying to commit, hiring someone to do it, or breaking rules the Secretary makes to enforce these bans is also illegal. For forensic testing or other law enforcement reasons, the Secretary, federal law officers, and state or local officers the Secretary allows may import a polar bear or its parts.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §1423a

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It is unlawful for any person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or any person in waters or on lands under the jurisdiction of the United States—

(1)to take any polar bear in violation of the Agreement;

(2)to take any polar bear in violation of the Agreement or any annual taking limit or other restriction on the taking of polar bears that is adopted by the Commission pursuant to the Agreement;

(3)to import, export, possess, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase, exchange, barter, or offer to sell, purchase, exchange, or barter any polar bear, or any part or product of a polar bear, that is taken in violation of paragraph (2);

(4)to import, export, sell, purchase, exchange, barter, or offer to sell, purchase, exchange, or barter, any polar bear gall bile or polar bear gall bladder;

(5)to attempt to commit, solicit another person to commit, or cause to be committed, any offense under this subsection; or

(6)to violate any regulation promulgated by the Secretary to implement any of the prohibitions established in this subsection.

(b)For the purpose of forensic testing or any other law enforcement purpose, the Secretary, and Federal law enforcement officials, and any State or local law enforcement official authorized by the Secretary, may import a polar bear or any part or product of a polar bear.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 1423a

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73