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Lacey Act
The Lacey Act combats trafficking in "illegal" wildlife, fish, and plants. In an effort to curb illegal logging worldwide, the importation into the US of wood and many products containing wood now requires documentation as to the country of harvest of the wood/vegetable material. This regulation is enforced by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The oldest wildlife protection statute in the US, the Lacey Act was enacted in 1900 and has been amended many times, most significantly in 1969, 1981, 1989, and 2008. The most recent amendments expanded its protection to a broader range of plants and plant products making it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any plant that was harvested or traded in violation of domestic or international laws.
APHIS recently declared that there will be a two month grace period through July 01, 2010, before Lacey Act declarations must be made using "standardized metric units" (kilograms, meters, square meters, and cubic meters) that "reflect the actual plant content in the product and not necessarily the product as a whole." Data using units of measure that "do not adequately address the 'quantity of plant material' required by the Act." (i.e., pieces, number, or dozens) were originally scheduled to be eliminated as of May 01, 2010, but APHIS granted the grace period to allow members of the trade community time to make the necessary changes to their declaration procedures.
Earlier this year, phase four enforcement of the Lacey Act added certification requirements for merchandise classified in the following HTSUS headings: 4421 (other articles of wood), 6602 (walking sticks, whips, crops), 8201 (hand tools), 9201 (pianos), 9202 (other stringed instruments), 9302 (revolvers and pistols), 9305.10.20 (parts and accessories for revolvers and pistols), 9401.69 (seats with wood frames), 9504.20 (articles and accessories for billiards), and 9703 (sculptures).
Below are links to the USDA Lacey Act and CBP Lacey Act pages:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/index.shtml
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/laws/
food_energy/amended_lacey_act/
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