the MMA(Marine Mammal Act) was established in 1972. According to the following section any animal taken prior to this date only needs certain infomation. that date stamp probably sufficed.
§ 216.14 Marine mammals taken before
the MMPA.
(a) Section 102(e) of the MMPA provides,
in effect, that the MMPA shall
not apply to any marine mammal
taken prior to December 21, 1972, or to
any marine mammal product, consisting
of or composed in whole or in
part of, any marine mammal taken before
that date. This prior status of any
marine mammal or marine mammal
product may be established by submitting
to the Director, National Marine
Fisheries Service prior to, or at the
time of importation, an affidavit containing
the following:
(1) The Affiant’s name and address;
(2) Identification of the Affiant;
(3) A description of the marine mammals
or marine mammal products
which the Affiant desires to import;
(4) A statement by the Affiant that,
to the best of his knowledge and belief,
the marine mammals involved in the
application were taken prior to December
21, 1972;
(5) A statement by the Affiant in the
following language:
The foregoing is principally based on the
attached exhibits which, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, are complete, true and
correct. I understand that this affidavit is
being submitted for the purpose of inducing
the Federal Government to permit the importation
of—under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 through
1407) and regulations promulgated thereunder,
and that any false statements may
subject me to the criminal penalties of 13
U.S.C. 1001, or to penalties under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
(b) Either one of two exhibits shall be
attached to such affidavit, and will
contain either:
(1) Records or other available evidence
showing that the product consists
of or is composed in whole or in
part of marine mammals taken prior to
the effective date of the MMPA. Such
records or other evidentiary material
must include information on how,
when, where, and by whom the animals
were taken, what processing has taken
place since taking, and the date and location
of such processing; or
(2) A statement from a government
agency of the country of origin exercising
jurisdiction over marine mammals
that any and all such mammals
from which the products sought to be
imported were derived were taken prior
to December 21, 1972.
(c) No pre-Act marine mammal or
pre-Act marine mammal product may
be imported unless the requirements of
this section have been fulfilled.
(d) This section has no application to
any marine mammal or marine mammal
product intended to be imported
pursuant to §§ 216.21, 216.31 or § 216.32.
[39 FR 1852, Jan. 15, 1974, as amended at 59
FR 50375, 50376, Oct. 3, 1994]
