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SITCSection 4
Whale oil, seal oil, and other marine mammal-derived fats and oils occupy a heavily regulated niche in international trade, with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) imposing strict import prohibitions on products derived from most marine mammals. Commercial importation of whale oil is effectively barred under both the MMPA and the International Whaling Commission moratorium framework, making this heading relevant primarily for legacy industrial uses, scientific research samples, or certain indigenous subsistence products subject to specific exemptions. Importers must obtain US Fish and Wildlife Service authorization and verify that any shipment does not originate from a protected species or prohibited harvest.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Commercial importation of most marine mammal products — including oils — is prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Narrow exemptions exist for scientific research, certain Alaska Native subsistence products, and pre-Act antique items. Any potential import requires prior authorization from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and should be reviewed by legal counsel familiar with MMPA requirements.
Many marine mammal species are listed under CITES Appendix I or II, requiring both CITES export permits from the country of origin and US import permits from the Fish and Wildlife Service. CITES compliance is a necessary but not sufficient condition — MMPA restrictions apply independently and are generally more prohibitive for commercial trade.
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Monthly import values over time