What's Changed?
The U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which regulates the import, export, sale, or acquisition of protected fish, wildlife, plants, and plant products, has announced the next stage of Lacey Act implementation with the rollout of Phase VII, set to take effect on December 1, 2024.
Originally outlined in Federal Register Notice 89 FR 47122, Phase VII expands declaration requirements to cover all remaining plant product Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes that are not 100-percent composite materials.
Do You Need a Declaration?
As of December 1, 2024, imports under one of the 250 affected HS/HTS Codes may require a Lacey Act import declaration for entry into the United States.
Lacey Act declarations will be required if all of the following conditions are met:
the product contains plant material
is classified under an APHIS-listed HS/HTS code
is imported as a formal entry (has an aggregate value of $2,500 or more)
More Information
More detailed information related to the Lacey Act declaration requirement can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/file-lacey-act-declaration/requirements#modal-link-de-minimis