[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 50, Volume 7]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 50CFR216.91]



[Page 54-55]

 

                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES

 

  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 

           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 

PART 216_REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE MAMMALS

--Table of Contents

 

                  Subpart H_Dolphin Safe Tuna Labeling

 

Sec. 216.91  Dolphin-safe labeling standards.



    (a) It is a violation of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission 

Act (15 U.S.C. 45) for any producer, importer, exporter, distributor, or 

seller of any tuna products that are exported from or offered for sale 

in the United States to include on the label of those products the term 

``dolphin-safe'' or any other term or symbol that claims or suggests 

that the tuna contained in the products were harvested using a method of 

fishing that is not harmful to dolphins if the products contain tuna 

harvested:

    (1) ETP large purse seine vessel. In the ETP by a purse seine vessel 

of greater than 400 st (362.8 mt) carrying capacity unless:

    (i) the documentation requirements for dolphin-safe tuna under Sec. 

216.92 and 216.93 are met;

    (ii) No dolphins were killed or seriously injured during the sets in 

which the tuna were caught; and

    (iii) None of the tuna were caught on a trip using a purse seine net 

intentionally deployed on or to encircle dolphins, provided that this 

paragraph (a)(1)(iii) will not apply if the Assistant Administrator 

publishes a notification in the Federal Register announcing a finding 

under 16 U.S.C. 1385(g)(2) that the intentional deployment of purse 

seine nets on or encirclement of dolphins is not having a significant 

adverse impact on any depleted stock.

    (2) Non-ETP purse seine vessel. Outside the ETP by a vessel using a 

purse seine net:

    (i) In a fishery in which the Assistant Administrator has determined 

that a



[[Page 55]]



regular and significant association occurs between dolphins and tuna 

(similar to the association between dolphins and tuna in the ETP), 

unless such products are accompanied by a written statement, executed by 

the Captain of the vessel and an observer participating in a national or 

international program acceptable to the Assistant Administrator, 

certifying that no purse seine net was intentionally deployed on or used 

to encircle dolphins during the particular trip on which the tuna were 

caught and no dolphins were killed or seriously injured in the sets in 

which the tuna were caught; or

    (ii) In any other fishery unless the products are accompanied by a 

written statement executed by the Captain of the vessel certifying that 

no purse seine net was intentionally deployed on or used to encircle 

dolphins during the particular trip on which the tuna was harvested;

    (3) Driftnet. By a vessel engaged in large-scale driftnet fishing; 

or

    (4) Other fisheries. By a vessel in a fishery other than one 

described in paragraphs (a)(1) through(a)(3) of this section that is 

identified by the Assistant Administrator as having a regular and 

significant mortality or serious injury of dolphins, unless such product 

is accompanied by a written statement, executed by the Captain of the 

vessel and an observer participating in a national or international 

program acceptable to the Assistant Administrator, that no dolphins were 

killed or seriously injured in the sets or other gear deployments in 

which the tuna were caught, provided that the Assistant Administrator 

determines that such an observer statement is necessary.

    (b) It is a violation of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission 

Act (15 U.S.C. 45) to willingly and knowingly use a label referred to in 

this section in a campaign or effort to mislead or deceive consumers 

about the level of protection afforded dolphins under the IDCP.

    (c) A tuna product that is labeled with the official mark, described 

in Sec. 216.95, may not be labeled with any other label or mark that 

refers to dolphins, porpoises, or marine mammals.



[69 FR 55307, Sept. 13, 2004]