APHIS Wants Trade to Switch to Revised Lacey Declaration Form Soon
An Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service official has stated by phone that he expects the trade to switch to the improved Lacey Act Amendment Plant and Plant Product Declaration Form (PPQ 505, dated August 2011) as soon as possible. He expected that importers could be using the new form exclusively after a few weeks have passed. The revised form PPQ 505 is in landscape format and has a new Supplemental Form (PPQ 505B) for additional articles and parts.
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(A PPQ 505 declaration is required for each shipment of plants or plant products for which APHIS is enforcing the declaration requirement. To date, APHIS has implemented four phases of enforcement. APHIS has stated that any subsequent phases will be announced six months in advance of their effective dates.
Note that the majority of Lacey declarations are made using CBP’s ABI system and are paperless, so a PPQ 505 is not used. APHIS states that some 20% of declarations are in paper form and use the PPQ form PPQ 505. The paper forms are to be available for CBP’s review at the port of entry. After CBP clears the shipment, the importer must mail the forms to APHIS.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/18/11 news, 11081812, for initial BP summary announcing the revised and new forms.)
Changes Reflected in New PPQ 505
A review of the old and new versions of the PPQ 505 indicate the differences between the two forms as follows (partial list):
- The new version is in “landscape” format (horizontal), rather than a portrait format (vertical);
- The HTS number and entered value are no longer formatted as a single field each; they are now in the table, on a line-item basis (to use as needed), along with the articled/component, plant scientific name, etc. information (table now encompasses columns #11 -- 18).
- The number of rows in the table is now 5 (from 16), as there is now a supplemental form (PPQ 505B) if additional rows are needed.
- The entire PPQ 505 form is now on a single page (in the prior version, the form spanned two pages).
- There is now a space on the certification line where the preparer must provide his phone number, including area code.
By comparing the old and new forms, the following changes in the instructions for completing the form are noted (partial list):
- Field 3 -- container number. It additionally states that “If you have more than [one] container number in your shipment, check the “see attachment” box, and list all of the containers on a separate sheet. Attach the container list to the PPQ 505.”
- Example of declaration -- This has been updated for the two fields that moved to the table (HTS number and entered value).
At the end of the form, it additionally states that “You may use Form PPQ 505B should more space be required. Make as many copies as necessary.”
New Supplemental PPQ 505B
The new Plant and Plant Product Declaration Supplemental Form (PPQ 505B) is a continuation sheet for the PPQ Form 505, and is to be used if more space is required.
One can make as many copies of this supplemental form as is necessary.
Besides requiring the entry number, the supplemental form, which is on a single page, consists of a 12-row table for columns #11-18. It also has the same certification line as the PPQ Form 505 has, and provides for a listing of total page count (Page __ of __).
Revised PPQ 505 form (August 15, 2011) available here.
New Supplemental PPQ 505B form (August 15, 2011) available here.