WTO Agriculture negotiations chairperson Ambassador Falconer, on August 11, 2008, submitted his report on the July 2008 "package" talks to the Trade Negotiations Committee. Also, non-agricultural market access (NAMA) chairperson Stephenson, on August 12, 2008, submitted his report on the July 2008 "package" talks to the Trade Negotiations Committee. (WTO agriculture negotiations chairperson's report, dated 08/11/08, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/agric_e/chair_texts_11aug08_e.doc; WTO non-agricultural market access chairperson's report, dated 08/12/08, available at
Lacey Act
The Lacey Act and subsequent amendments make it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, or acquire any plant, fish or wildlife obtained in violation of U.S., tribal or foreign law, as well as any injurious wildlife. The law is administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and CBP. APHIS has been implementing Lacey Act declaration requirements since 2009. Lacey Act declarations may be filed by the importer of record or its licensed customs broker, and include information on imported item's species name, value, quantity, and country where it was harvested.
The House and Senate have both passed the conference version of H.R. 2419, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill), by greater than two-thirds majorities.
The following are the trade-related bills that were introduced in the House or Senate during the week of January 14-25, 2008:
The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a notice of inquiry which seeks comments from the public to aid FWS in determining if a proposed rule is warranted to add constrictor snakes in the Python, Boa, and Eunectes genera to the list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a final rule, effective August 9, 2007, which amends 50 CFR 16.13 to add all forms (diploid and triploid) of live silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and live largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi), gametes, viable eggs, and hybrids to the list of injurious fish, mollusks, and crustaceans under the Lacey Act.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a proposed rule to add all forms (diploid and triploid) of live silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and live largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi), gametes, eggs, and hybrids to the list of injurious fish, mollusks, and crustaceans under the Lacey Act.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a proposed rule to revise and update its regulations in 50 CFR Parts 10, 13, 17, and 23 that implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a proposed rule that would add a new subpart K to 50 CFR Part 14 in order to make it illegal to import, export, buy, sell, transport, receive, or acquire, in interstate or foreign commerce live lions, tigers, leopards, snow leopards, clouded leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, or cougars, or any hybrid combination of any of these species (e.g., "ligers" and "tiglons") (prohibited wildlife species), unless certain exemptions apply.
FWS Again Extends Comment Period Regarding its Proposed Rule to List Black Carp as an Injurious Fish
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a notice which again extends the comment period on: (1) its July 2002 proposed rule to add all forms of live black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), including gametes, and viable eggs, to the list of injurious fish under the Lacey Act, and (2) the draft environmental assessment and draft economic analysis prepared in association with the proposed rule.
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a notice that provides information on Argentina's trade restrictions for certain wildlife species. Pursuant to the Lacey Act, the FWS states it will assist Argentina in ensuring that wildlife traded between the U.S. and Argentina complies with the wildlife trade requirements put in place by Argentina.