APHIS Publishes Lacey Act Implementation Notice and Will Hold Public Meeting
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will host a public meeting on October 14, 2008 to discuss the new declaration requirement established by recent revisions to the Lacey Act. The meeting will be held in the Jefferson Auditorium at USDA’s South Agriculture Building, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Lacey Act was amended by Congress in May to make it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce, any plant--with limited exceptions--to be taken or traded in violation of domestic or international laws. The amended Act now covers a broad range of plants and plant products, including timber deriving from illegally harvested plants. In addition, the Lacey Act was amended to require importers to submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. The declaration requirements of the Lacey Act become effective on December 15, 2008.
APHIS published a notice in today's Federal Register with details on the declaration requirement and the plans to phase-in enforcement. During the October 14th meeting APHIS will provide further information about the declaration requirement and the proposed phase-in plan for its enforcement, along with the scope of the requirements and other related issues.
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