The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has added a sentence to its announcement that a metric unit of measure and quantity is required for the Lacey Act declaration as of May 1, 2010. The new sentence states that in response to industry concerns, APHIS will implement a grace period of two months (ending July 1, 2010), to allow industry to make the needed changes to declaration procedures. (Notice, posted 05/17/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/ClarificationQuantityandUnitofMeasure.pdf)
On May 11, 2010, the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) met in Philadelphia, PA to discuss a variety of trade issues. Highlights of the discussions include:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sources have announced that the agency is granting a two-month grace period for its requirement that plant material quantities be reported on the Lacey Act declaration using standardized metric units (such as kg, m, m2, m3).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has posted a clarification to its Website stating that beginning May 1, 2010, APHIS is requiring that plant material quantities be reported on the Lacey Act declaration using standardized metric units (such as kg, m, m2, m3).
Broker Power recently reported that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s April 2010 version of its Lacey Act Primer indicates that units of measure such as pieces (pcs) or planks are no longer allowed to be used on the Lacey Act declaration for imported plants and plant products.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an April 2010 version of its Lacey Act Primer.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has asked the Office of Management and Budget to review and approve its proposed rule to establish definitions for the terms “common cultivar” (except trees) and “common food crop”, which are among the categorical exemptions to the Lacey Act Amendments requirements.
Officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection discussed the agency’s plans for upcoming Automated Commercial Environment releases and other ACE-related issues at the April 2010 National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America annual conference.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a March 2010 version of its Lacey Act Primer. Also, at a recent brokers meeting, APHIS officials commented on current developments concerning the Lacey Act declaration for imported plants and plant products.
CBP has posted an updated version of its 2010 ACE accomplishments fact sheet. (Fact sheet, posted 03/16/10, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/trade/ace_factsheets/ace_accomp/ace_accomp_10.xml)