The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the implementation of Phase VII of the Lacey Act provisions. In this phase, declarations will be required for ALL remaining plant product Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes that are NOT 100-percent composite materials. 

If an importer imports items that contain plant products, but do not currently file a Lacey Act declaration, they likely will need to file under Phase VII. Phase VII includes the broadest range of items, items as varied as industrial or medicinal plants, handbags, plywood, laminated wood, tools, matches with natural wood stems, products of natural cork, products of bamboo and rattan, footwear and more. Plant and wood products included in past phases include timber, some furniture, essential oils, wood cases and trunks, and woodwind instruments and their parts and accessories.

The full enforcement schedule is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/lacey-act.

Phase VII of the enforcement schedule should begin on December 1, 2024. The public can comment on the products covered under Phase VII of the enforcement plan, as well as on whether any additional Harmonized Tariff Schedule chapters should be included in the current phase-in schedule. You can view the products included in Phase VII in the Federal Register notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/31/2024-11901/implementation-of-revised-lacey-act-provisions.

Learn About the latest in Lacey Act compliance and due diligence training with a FREE online class.

Thanks to a grant from USDA APHIS, International Wood Products Association (IWPA) is offering an online class FREE OF CHARGE. This free course will help those covered by the declaration receive a thorough overview of the Lacey Act, including the newest Lacey Act Phase VII additions. 

Lacey Path

This Learning Path is free through September 4, 2024, or until grant funds expire, whichever occurs first, to those who need to comply with Phases I through VII of the Lacey Declaration requirements. 

This Learning Path is comprised of 5 courses—Lacey Act History, Lacey Legal, Basic Biology, Lacey Act Due Care Basics, and Lacey Act Declaration Basics.  Together, these courses will provide individuals—regardless of their point in the supply chain—with information to help develop meaningful and comprehensive due care programs.  The class starts with Lacey Act fundamentals and then continues into a review of basic biology to assist importers with identifying and properly declaring species upon import.  The fourth module outlines the basics of due care with the lessons pulled directly from enforcement cases.  The final module explores the declaration requirements.

Learners successfully completing this course can receive 4 CCS/CES credits from NEI. You can access this course here: https://www.iwpawood.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=21531393.

Need more information? Please contact your RIM representative, or contact us at Compliance@rimlogistics.com, today!