{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-1862","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 22-1862","heading":"Unlawful distribution of a prohibited animal product.","body":"(a)\nBeginning one year after October 1, 2020, a person commits the offense of unlawful distribution of a prohibited animal product if that person knowingly imports, sells, offers for sale, purchases, barters, trades, or possesses with intent to sell a prohibited animal product.\n\n(b)\nNotwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a person does not commit the offense of unlawful distribution of a prohibited animal product if the person:\n(1)\nBequeaths the prohibited animal product to the legal beneficiary of an estate or trust upon the death of the owner;\n(2)\nGifts or donates the prohibited animal product without remuneration;\n(3)\nIs a government employee or agent conducting law enforcement activities pursuant to federal, state, or local law;\n(4)\nIs an educational or scientific institution that imports, sells, offers for sale, purchases, barters, trades, or possesses with intent to sell a prohibited animal product for educational or scientific purposes;\n(5)\nIs engaging in an activity that is expressly authorized by federal law or a permit issued pursuant to federal law;\n(6)\nImports, sells, offers for sale, purchases, barters, trades, or possesses with intent to sell a prohibited animal product that is part of an antique that:\n(A)\nIs composed of not more than 20% of a prohibited animal product by volume; and\n(B)\nThe person can, through documentation, establish provenance and demonstrate that the antique is at least 100 years old; or\n(7)\nImports, sells, offers for sale, purchases, barters, trades, or possesses with intent to sell a prohibited animal product that is part of a musical instrument that:\n(A)\nIs composed of less than 20% of a prohibited animal product by volume; and\n(B)\nThe person can establish provenance and demonstrate that the musical instrument was manufactured before 1976.\n\n(c)\nThe act of obtaining an appraisal of a prohibited animal product alone shall not constitute possession with intent to sell or offer for sale.","path":["Title 22. Criminal Offenses and Penalties.","Chapter 18B. Ivory and Horn Trafficking."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-1862","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"fbeab60b523ba7dc6b9f9dc45c9389345b78fb5d049daa5d8bf9eb8ed8a8e210","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-1861","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-1863"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}