How does the change in the law apply to my polar bear trophy taken before February 18, 1997?

• Congress amended the MMPA on November 10, 2003, to allow hunters to import their polar bear trophies legally taken after the enactment of the 1994 amendments (April 30, 1994), but prior to the finalization of the Service's implementing regulations on February 18, 1997.
  
  
• In response to this change in the law, the Service is now accepting applications from hunters for permits to import polar bear trophies legally taken prior to February 18, 1997, from Nunavut or Northwest Territories, Canada. A previous amendment to the MMPA (H.R. 1871, June 12, 1997) grandfathered trophies taken prior to April 30, 1994. Congress has extended this exception for bears sport hunted through February 18, 1997. The importation of polar bear trophies taken after February 18, 1997, will continue to be allowed only from approved populations.

For more information, see "Importing your polar bear sport hunted trophy". Applicants should submit form 3-200-45 (Import of Polar Bear Trophies Sport Hunted in Canada). Applicants will need to show the bear was legally taken. In question D.3., the applicant should check "Other" and write in the polar bear population from which the bear was hunted. (Refer to the polar bear map for a list of the deferred populations.)

Excerpt from H.R. 2691 - (Signed November 10, 2003)

Sec. 149. Section 104 (16 U.S.C. 1374) is amended in subsection (c)(5)(D) by striking 'the date of the enactment of the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994' and inserting 'February 18, 1997'.

Marine Mammal Protection Act -- Amended Section 104(c)(5)(D):

"The Secretary of the Interior shall, expeditiously after the expiration of the applicable 30 day period under subsection (d)(2), issue a permit for the importation of polar bear parts (other than internal organs) from polar bears taken in sport hunts in Canada before February 18, 1997, to each applicant who submits, with the permit application, proof that the polar bear was legally harvested in Canada by the applicant. The Secretary shall issue such permits without regard to the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (C)(ii) of this paragraph, subsection (d)(3), and sections 101 and 102. This subparagraph shall not apply to polar bear parts that were imported before the effective date of this subparagraph."