The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is extending the comment period for phase six of the Lacey Act Enforcement Schedule, which will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2020. The public has an additional 30 days to comment on the products covered under phase six, which includes certain essential oils, wood cases and trunks, and musical instruments, among other things. The public may also comment on whether any other products should be included in phase six of the Lacey Act Enforcement Schedule.First enacted in 1900, the Lacey Act combats trafficking in illegally taken wildlife, fish, or plants. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 amended the Lacey Act to provide, among other things, that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. APHIS ensures compliance with the declaration requirement as part of its mission to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources, and it began enforcing the declaration requirement on April 1, 2009.Since 2009, APHIS has been phasing in enforcement of the declaration requirement, as described in three previous notices APHIS published in theFederal Register. To view these notices please visit http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0119. APHIS provides at least six months’ notice to persons and industries affected by changes to the Lacey Act Enforcement Schedule. For more information about the Lacey Act and the products that currently require a declaration, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/.APHIS will consider all comments on phase six of the Lacey Act Enforcement Schedule received on or before July 1, 2020. Interested stakeholders may view the notice and the full list of products covered under phase six in the Federal Register:http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0119 Note: Every Tuesday and Thursday in June and July, Regulations.gov will redirect users to its Beta site. You can view this notice on the Beta site at https://beta.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2008-0119-0297
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
