Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73

§4910 Prohibited acts

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 69— - WILD EXOTIC BIRD CONSERVATION › § 4910

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is illegal to import exotic birds if you break an import ban, bring in certain listed species that were not bred at an approved captive-breeding facility, or violate any rules the Secretary makes under this law. The ban and the listed-species rule do not apply when birds are just passing through the United States to go to another country, but only if the Convention’s trade rules for those birds are met. If someone claims they had an exemption or permit, they must prove it applied and was valid at the time of the alleged violation.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §4910

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), it is unlawful for any person to—

(A)import any exotic bird in violation of any prohibition, suspension, or quota on importation under section 4904 or 4907 of this title;

(B)import an exotic bird of a species that pursuant to section 4905(a)(2)(B) of this title is included in a list under section 4905 of this title, if the bird was not captive bred at a qualifying facility; or

(C)violate any regulation promulgated by the Secretary pursuant to authority provided by this chapter.

(2)Paragraph (1)(A) and (B) does not apply to importations made incident to the transit of exotic birds through the United States to foreign countries if the applicable requirements of the Convention have been satisfied with respect to the trade in those exotic birds.

(b)Any person claiming the benefit of any exemption or permit under this chapter shall have the burden of proving that the exemption or permit is applicable or has been granted, and was valid and in force at the time of the alleged violation.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 4910

Title 16 — Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73