United States v. FeelGood Natural Health Stores, Ltd.

On September 28, 2023, a court sentenced FeelGood Natural Health Stores, Ltd., (FeelGood) to pay an $18,000 fine and complete a three-year term of probation to include implementing an environmental compliance plan. FeelGood also will forfeit $1,374. The company pleaded guilty to a felony Lacey Act violation for trafficking in wildlife products (16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(a)(1),(4), 3373(d)(1)(B)).

            Between April 2019 and June 2020, this Canadian company made seven shipments of harp seal oil pills from Canada into the United States. FeelGood knew importing marine mammal products such as seal oil is prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. After illegally importing the seal oil capsules, the company contracted with a third party to transport them for sale in the United States. The total value of these seven shipments was more than $10,000.

            The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement conducted the investigation.