The White House has issued a press release announcing the issuance of an Executive Order on the half-day closing of all executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government (except as provided in the Executive Order) on December 24, 2009. (Press release, dated 12/11/09, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-half-day-closing-executive-departments-and-agencies-thursday-decemb.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service posted new guidance in November 2009 on filing Lacey Act Declarations for articles containing composite, recycled, or reused materials.
According to multiple press reports, agents with the Fish & Wildlife Service executed a search warrant at Gibson Guitar Corp's Nashville guitar plant on December 1, 2009 and seized various items, including an endangered form of rosewood from Madagascar. Andrew Ames, spokesman for the Justice Department, confirmed the raid but declined further comment. Gibson Guitar Corp. could be the first U.S. company to face prosecution under the Lacey Act Amendments.
The ITDS Board has submitted its annual report on the International Trade Data System to Congress, as required by the 2006 SAFE Port Act.1 The report includes updates on the status of ITDS implementation and the status of the Automated Commercial Environment within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, among other issues.
On October 1, 2009, the Animal and Plant Inspection Service launched Phase III of its enforcement of the Lacey Act Declaration requirements for imports of plants and plant products. Phase III extended enforcement of the declaration requirement to additional HTS Chapter 44 products, such as plywood, veneered panels, wooden frames, and tableware and kitchenware of wood.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association has submitted comments to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding the implementation of the Lacey Act provisions. AAFA's comments address the scope of enforcement, form and content of declaration, definitions, de minimis, enforcement of the underlying Lacey Act, etc. (Comments, dated 11/02/09, available at http://www.apparelandfootwear.org/letters/laceyactusdacomments091102.pdf.)
The World Bank reports that the global use of remedy laws such antidumping and countervailing duties, safeguards, and China-specific safeguards increased 52.6% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the third quarter of 2008. (Notice, dated October 2009, available at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPREMNET/Resources/PREMNote144Antidumping.pdf)
CBP has posted a notice that provides an overview of previous guidance on the Lacey Act declaration requirement for certain imported plants and plant products. (Notice, dated 10/15/09, available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/entry_summary/laws/food_energy/amended_lacey_act/guidance_lacey_act.xml)
The next phase of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's enforcement of the Lacey Act declaration requirement for imported plants and plant products - Phase III - begins on October 1, 2009.
The American Conference Institute is holding its fifth Forum on Import Compliance and Enforcement in Washington, D.C. on October 26 and 27, 2009.