PRIMATE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8471
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T08:07:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The PRIMATE Act (H.R. 8471) aims to ban the importation of live nonhuman primates (such as monkeys and apes, excluding humans) into the U.S. customs territory, except under limited conditions for accredited zoos and aquariums. Its full name is the "Preventing Risky Importation of Monkeys to Avoid Toxic Exposures Act," focusing on reducing health and safety risks from such imports.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Nonhuman primate: Any live animal from the primate taxonomic order, excluding humans.
- AZA-accredited facility: A zoo or aquarium certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
- Person: Broadly includes individuals, businesses, organizations, and government entities under U.S. jurisdiction.
- Secretary: Secretary of the Treasury.
- Import Ban: Makes it illegal for any person to import nonhuman primates, overriding other laws.
- Exception: Allows imports only if:
- Done by and for an AZA-accredited facility.
- Importer certifies the primate will not be sold, transferred, leased, used in experiments/testing, or bred for such purposes.
- Enforcement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must block and deny entry to prohibited shipments.
- Penalties:
- Civil fines up to $50,000 per violation.
- Forfeiture (seizure) of any illegally imported primates.
- Regulations: Treasury Secretary must issue implementing rules within 1 year of enactment, after public comment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 (Title III) by adding a new Section 308A, introducing the first specific federal ban on nonhuman primate imports via customs law.
- Previously, imports were regulated under other laws (e.g., health/safety rules by CDC or USDA), but this creates a blanket prohibition enforced at the border, with narrow exceptions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for CBP (border enforcement) and Treasury (rulemaking); may reduce disease outbreak risks tied to primate imports.
- Citizens/Businesses: Limits access for biomedical research, exotic pet trade, and non-accredited facilities; accredited zoos can continue imports with certifications.
- International Relations: Could strain trade with primate-exporting countries (e.g., in Africa/Asia) by blocking shipments, potentially affecting global research collaborations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- AZA-accredited zoos/aquariums: Benefit from the exception, enabling continued imports for exhibition.
- Researchers and labs: Restricted from importing for experiments/testing, impacting biomedical studies (e.g., vaccine development).
- Importers/exotic animal traders: Face total ban and severe penalties, halting most commercial activity.
- Animal welfare groups: Likely supportive of reduced risky imports.
- General public: Potential health benefits from lower exposure to primate-borne diseases (e.g., viruses).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens customs authority over live animal imports; civil penalties add to existing criminal laws (e.g., under Title 18 U.S. Code); forfeiture ensures quick seizure without court delays.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's commerce power (import regulation); no apparent free speech or due process issues, as it targets conduct with certification process.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Republicans and Democrats); referred to House Ways and Means Committee, signaling trade/health policy focus rather than partisan divide.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Preventing Risky Importation of Monkeys to Avoid Toxic Exposures Act — issued 2026-04-23 — PDF (4 pages)