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Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73not60

§1824a Export of Horses

Title 15 › Chapter 44— PROTECTION OF HORSES › § 1824a

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

No horse can be shipped by sea from the United States or its territories unless the shipment has an approved waiver. The Secretary of Commerce, with the Secretary of Agriculture, can make rules and grant a waiver only if they find no horse in the shipment is being sent for slaughter. If someone knowingly breaks the rule, they can face a criminal fine up to the greater of 5 times the shipment’s value or $50,000, up to 5 years in prison, or both. After notice and a hearing, the Commerce Secretary may also impose a civil fine up to $10,000 for each violation.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1824a

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no horse may be exported by sea from the United States, or any of its territories or possessions, unless such horse is part of a consignment of horses with respect to which a waiver has been granted under subsection (b).
(b)The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, may issue regulations providing for the granting of waivers permitting the export by sea of a specified consignment of horses, if the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, determines that no horse in that consignment is being exported for purposes of slaughter.
(c)(1)Any person who knowingly violates this section or any regulation, order, or license issued under this section shall be fined not more than 5 times the value of the consignment of horses involved or $50,000, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(2)The Secretary of Commerce, after providing notice and an opportunity for an agency hearing on the record, may impose a civil penalty of not to exceed $10,000 for each violation of this section or any regulation, order, or license issued under this section, either in addition to or in lieu of any other liability or penalty which may be imposed.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was not enacted as part of the Horse Protection Act of 1970 which comprises this chapter. Section was classified to section 466c of the former Appendix to Title 46, prior to the completion of the enactment of Title 46, Shipping, by Pub. L. 109–304, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1485.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 7(j) of Pub. L. 96–72, formerly classified to section 4606(j) of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to the amendment of section 7(j) of that Act by Pub. L. 99–64, which enacted this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1824a

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60