The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service is soliciting comments through Aug. 6 on the proposed three-year
extension of the import declaration required for certain plants and plant
products under the Lacey Act. This declaration must contain, among other
things, the scientific name of the plant, the value of the importation, the
quantity of the plant, and the name of the country from which the plant was harvested.
For paper and paperboard products with recycled plant content, the importer is
not required to specify the species or country of harvest with respect to the
recycled plant product component but will be required to provide the average
percentage of recycled content. If the product also contains non-recycled plant
materials the basic declaration requirements still apply to that component of
the product imported.
Comments should focus on (a) whether this declaration is necessary for the proper performance of APHIS’ functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) how to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; (c) the accuracy of APHIS’ estimate of the burden of this declaration, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; and (d) ways to minimize that burden through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical and other collection technologies (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).
Industry sources believe Congress may act soon on legislation that would make various changes to the Lacey Act amendments of 2008, including the import declaration requirement. The Retailers and Entertainers Lacey Implementation and Enforcement Fairness (RELIEF) Act (H.R. 3210) would exempt any plant product imported or manufactured before May 22, 2008, from the requirements of the Lacey Act amendments and limit the import declaration requirement to solid wood and items imported only for commerce. Witnesses at recent congressional hearings have testified of the difficulty of providing the information required on the import declaration, and key lawmakers have said they are interested in advancing reforms this year. Others, however, have expressed opposition to what they see as an effort to water down the 2008 amendments.
Comments should focus on (a) whether this declaration is necessary for the proper performance of APHIS’ functions, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) how to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; (c) the accuracy of APHIS’ estimate of the burden of this declaration, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; and (d) ways to minimize that burden through the use of automated, electronic, mechanical and other collection technologies (e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).
Industry sources believe Congress may act soon on legislation that would make various changes to the Lacey Act amendments of 2008, including the import declaration requirement. The Retailers and Entertainers Lacey Implementation and Enforcement Fairness (RELIEF) Act (H.R. 3210) would exempt any plant product imported or manufactured before May 22, 2008, from the requirements of the Lacey Act amendments and limit the import declaration requirement to solid wood and items imported only for commerce. Witnesses at recent congressional hearings have testified of the difficulty of providing the information required on the import declaration, and key lawmakers have said they are interested in advancing reforms this year. Others, however, have expressed opposition to what they see as an effort to water down the 2008 amendments.
