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Millions of donkeys are killed every year to meet the demand for ejiao, which is a product made from their skin. The demand isn't just leading to horrifying cruelty, it's devastating donkey populations and posing a public health risk. Urge Congress to take a stand against this trade by passing the Ejiao Act.

Ejiao is made by boiling donkey hides to extract collagen, which is then turned into a gelatin that can be mixed with other ingredients and sold in various forms, including pills or liquids. It's largely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting any health benefits, the demand has continued to grow and is now threatening donkey populations around the world.

It was once a luxury product in China, but soaring demand has decimated the country's donkey population and now threatens those in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia, resulting in the brutal deaths of millions of donkeys every year.

Mainland China and Hong Kong are the biggest importers, but the U.S. is the third largest market, with an estimated $12 million in annual imports.

Not only is the trade in ejiao decimating donkey populations, it poses serious animal welfare concerns; donkeys have been found to be subjected to abuse, mistreatment, and neglect, and forced to endure grueling conditions during transport before being killed at terrifying slaughterhouses where there is little to no oversight, or killed inhumanely in the illegal trade.

It's also harming vulnerable communities that are having the donkeys they use stolen and killed, fueling the illegal wildlife trade and posing a risk of spreading diseases.

The Ejiao Act (HR 6021), which was originally introduced in 2021, would ban the transport, sale, and purchase of ejiao products, along with donkeys and donkey hides intended to make ejiao.

Urge Congress to take a stand against this cruel industry to ensure the U.S. isn't complicit by passing the Ejiao Act, which would also send a strong message to other countries that it's time to do the same.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Support the Ejiao Act

As someone who’s concerned with animal welfare, I’m writing to ask you to support the Ejiao Act (HR 6021), which would protect donkeys from the cruel and unsustainable trade in their hides.
 
The demand for ejiao, which is a product made from boiling donkey skin for use in traditional Chinese medicine and cosmetics, was once considered a luxury product in China. However, soaring demand has decimated the country’s donkey population and now threatens those in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia where millions of donkeys are being killed every year. The unsustainable rate at which they are being killed is threatening the survival of both wild and domesticated donkeys
 
Not only is the trade in ejiao decimating donkey populations, it poses serious animal welfare concerns; donkeys have been found to be subjected to abuse, mistreatment, and neglect, and forced to endure grueling conditions during transport before being killed at slaughterhouses where there is little to no oversight.
 
It’s also harming vulnerable communities that are having the donkeys they use stolen and killed, fueling the illegal wildlife trade and posing a risk of spreading diseases.
 
Mainland China and Hong Kong are the biggest importers of ejiao, but the U.S. is the third largest market, with an estimated $12 million in annual imports.
 
The trade in ejiao is opposed by numerous animal advocacy organizations, along with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. 

I sincerely hope you will act to support this important piece of legislation to ensure the U.S. is not complicit in this cruel trade.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.