Penalties Any person who violates the act may be 

assessed a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each

separate knowing and intention of violation, $5,000 for 

each separate gross negligence violation, or $3,000 for 

each separate negligent violation. 

Debarment When an entity has been found to have 

committed a knowing and intentional or a gross 

negligent violation of the act, the entity may be 

prohibited from importing, exporting, transporting, 

distributing, manufacturing or selling any fur product 

in the U.S. 

Publication A list of the names of any producer, 

manufacturer, supplier, seller, importer or exporter 

found to have committed a knowing and intentional or 

a gross negligent violation of the act will be published 

in the Federal Register.

Trade Violation Allegations Suspected violations

may be reported via CBP’s e-Allegations, online trade 

violation reporting system at: 

https://apps.cbp.gov/eallegations. Allegations may be 

reported anonymously.

Reward Any person who furnishes information 

leading to a civil penalty assessment, debarment or 

forfeiture of property for any violation the act may be 

entitled to a reward for this information.

Information or Allegations If you wish to meet with 

CBP to discuss the enforcement of the act or to report 

suspected violations, please contact the Office of Trade 

at trade.enforcement@cbp.dhs.gov or you may send 

information to: 

Office of Trade

US Customs and Border Protection 

1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 

Washington DC 20229 

Office of Trade (OT)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 

enforces the Dog and Cat Protection Act which 

includes detecting and prohibiting illegal 

international trade of dog and cat fur products

imported into the United States. To fulfill its mission, 

CBP analyzes trade data and uses a risk-based 

approach to identify the highest risk imports. CBP 

officers perform examinations of potentially violative 

imports at U.S. ports of entry. 

The Dog and Cat Protection Act Pursuant to 19 

U.S.C. § 1308, the act prohibits the importation and 

exportation of any dog or cat fur products into and out 

of the U.S. More specifically, the act makes it illegal 

to introduce, manufacture, sell, trade, offer to sell, 

advertise, transport or distribute dog and cat fur 

product in the interstate commerce of the U.S. CBP 

partners with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 

Homeland Security Investigations to enforce the 

domestic portion of the law. 

Definition Dog and cat fur products are items made 

of any dog fur, cat fur or both. ‘Dog fur’ means the 

pelt or skin of any animal of the species Canis 

familiaris. ‘Cat fur’ means the pelt of skin of any 

animal of the species Felis catus. The act does not 

simply prohibit products which contain fur; the act 

prohibits the importation of dog and cat leather 

products, which are comprised of dog and cat skin. 

Violations of the act are remedied through seizure and 

forfeiture, civil penalties and debarment when 

appropriate. 

Seizure and Forfeiture When merchandise is 

detected that violates the act, the merchandise is 

subject to seizure and forfeiture.

Commercial Enforcement Division

Dog and Cat Protection Act

CBP Publication # 0556-0816