While we are all busily preparing for 10+2, a wolf in sheeps' clothing slipped in through the compliance door on May 22nd, 2008. It is hard to believe how these amendments passed. It could literally bring the commerce of the US to a grinding halt, but, short of WTO intervention, it will be effective on December 15th of this year. Basically, if you import into the US and the imported goods contain or include plant products or are derived from plant products (with few exclusions), you must make a separate declaration at the time of importation. This includes each species that was used and each country from which the plant was taken. The commodities most obviously affected are:
- Lumber,
- Wood pulp,
- Paper & Paperboard, AND
- Live plants if listed under CITES, The Endangered Species Act or other specialized conservation laws, BUT ALSO
- Furniture,
- Umbrellas,
- Resin,
- Cigarettes, AND
- Printed matter,
- Boats, cars, trains, planes,
- Musical instruments,
- Pharmaceuticals,
- Textiles, IN SHORT
- anything containing anything derived from plants (unless excepted).
Originally the Lacey Act was designed to protect animals illegally killed in their state of origin...now, since all the import declarations will have to be done manually for awhile, it is creating a paper nightmare and a complete waste of resources. Well, folks, these are your tax dollars at work!
