1Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, prohibiting the sale of shark fins;
3and imposing a penalty.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:

8CHAPTER 55

9PROHIBITION ON

10THE SALE OF SHARK FINS

11Sec.

125501. Definitions.

135502. Prohibition.

145503. Penalty.

15§ 5501. Definitions.

16The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18context clearly indicates otherwise:

1"Shark fin." The raw, dried or otherwise processed detached
2fin or the raw, dried or otherwise processed detached tail of a
3member of the superorder selachimorpha. The term does not 
4include a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration of 
5the Department of Health and Human Services of the United 
6States.

7§ 5502. Prohibition.

8(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a
9person may not possess, sell, offer for sale, trade or
10distribute a shark fin.

11(b) Exceptions.--

12(1) Possession of a shark fin is permissible if:

13(i) the shark was landed under a license from
14another state; and

15(ii) it is being possessed in this Commonwealth for
16taxidermy.

17(2) Before September 1, 2013, a restaurant may possess,
18sell, offer for sale, trade or distribute shark fin that:

19(i) is prepared for consumption; and

20(ii) the restaurant possesses prior to September 2,
212012.

22§ 5503. Penalty.

23A person who violates section 5502 (relating to prohibition)
24commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. Each shark fin
25possessed, sold, offered for sale or purchased in violation of
26section 5502 is a separate offense.

27Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.