USDA Launches New Electronic Filing System for Lacey Act Declarations
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service launched a new website that gives importers another option for filing Lacey Act Declarations electronically, the agency said Sept. 3. The Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS) (here) allows importers and their customs brokers to log into APHIS systems and enter their PPQ Form 505 directly. The new system is not intended to replace filing of Lacey Act Declarations in the Automated Broker Interface, but is instead intended to give remaining paper filers an electronic option. LAWGS will eventually replace all paper submissions, said APHIS.
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APHIS originally announced its plans for the new tool in August 2013, and said at the time that it should be ready for public release by the end of the year (see 13080611). However, internal development continued through the end of 2013, according to an Agriculture Department presentation posted by the environmental group Forest Legality Network (here). APHIS ran a two-week pilot test of the new system in February, it said in House testimony (here).
Importers Can Invite Brokers to File Their Lacey Act Decs
According to APHIS, the public launch of the new system will make filing Lacey Act Declarations easier and faster, saving time and reducing errors by allowing importers to: (1) save frequently used declaration data in templates for future submissions; (2) select standard information from drop-down menus; and (3) upload merchandise information XML format to auto-populate the form. Importers of record can either file on their own, or designate a broker or agent to file on their behalf, says a FAQ posted concurrently with the announcement of the new system (here).
Brokers and importers get different types of accounts. Broker accounts are only able to view and edit declarations that they themselves filed, and must be invited by an importer account to file on its behalf, said APHIS. Each customs broker gets only one broker account, but can be invited and become a member of multiple importer accounts, it said. APHIS posted instructions for creating a new account (here).
APHIS Encourages Filers to Continue in ABI
APHIS said LAWGS is not intended to replace the ABI submission process, and filers using ABI “are encouraged” to continue to do so. Importers or brokers that have filed their Lacey Act data through ABI are not required to submit another declaration through LAWGS or the paper submission process, it said. Only one declaration per shipment is required. LAWGS cannot process Lacey Act Declarations that contain multiple consignees, said APHIS. Instead, filers with multiple consignees per entry should either use ABI or continue paper filing.