New York Urged to Protect Donkeys from Brutal Ejiao Trade

Washington, DC—Today, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and a dozen other animal protection groups and equine rescues urged New York Attorney General Letitia James to crack down on the sale of ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin) to comply with a recent state law prohibiting horse slaughter and the sale of horseflesh for consumption.

As the letter notes, in December 2023, New York became the fifth state to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption (after Texas, California, Illinois, and New Jersey). This comprehensive legislation defines “horse” to include all members of the equine family, such as donkeys, and the term “horseflesh” to mean any part of the horse’s body.

Ejiao (pronounced “eh-gee-yow”) is a gelatin made from boiling the hides of donkeys. It is used in traditional Chinese remedies, supplements, foods, and cosmetics. Despite the lack of scientific evidence of its purported health benefits, demand for ejiao is increasing dramatically. As a result, millions of donkeys are killed each year, imperiling donkey populations and directly harming the many communities around the world that rely on these animals.

Donkeys who fall victim to the ejiao trade often endure immense suffering, including appalling transport conditions without food, water, or rest, arriving at slaughterhouses with severe wounds and infections, and being beaten and subjected to unsuccessful stunning attempts prior to slaughter.

The United States is the third largest importer of products containing ejiao, with an estimated $12 million in annual imports. While eBay and Walmart-owned Jet.com have pledged to stop selling ejiao products, they can still be purchased from Amazon and other online retailers.

In February 2023, the nonprofit Center for Contemporary Equine Studies sued Amazon, claiming that the e-commerce giant had violated California animal welfare law by selling items containing ejiao despite the state’s clear prohibition on the consumption of equines. In a December 2023 settlement, Amazon agreed to stop selling ejiao products in California.

“Unfortunately, the United States is contributing to the burgeoning ejiao trade, leading to the decimation of donkey populations worldwide,” said Joanna Grossman, PhD, equine program director and senior policy advisor for AWI’s Farmed Animal Program. “New York has a real opportunity to clamp down on the sale of ejiao and protect these trusted and loyal animals from a brutal and senseless trade.”

Earlier this year, the African Union—representing 55 African nations—adopted a historic moratorium on slaughtering donkeys for their skin. In the United States, the bipartisan Ejiao Act (H.R. 6021), led by Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), would prohibit the transport, sale, and purchase of products containing ejiao and of donkeys and donkey hides for the production of ejiao. Reintroduced in the House of Representatives last year, the bill has not yet advanced out of committee.