Lacey Act Implementation Plan; Definitions for Exempt and Regulated Articles

In response to recent amendments to the Lacey Act, we are establishing definitions for the terms "common cultivar" and "common food crop" and several related terms. The amendments to the Act expanded its protections to a broader range of plant species, extended its reach to encompass products, including timber, that derive from illegally harvested plants, and require that importers submit a declaration at the time of importation for certain plants and plant products. Common cultivars and common food crops are among the categorical exclusions to the provisions of the Act. The Act does not define the terms "common cultivar" and "common food crop" but instead gives authority to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior to define these terms by regulation. Our definitions specify which plants and plant products will be excluded from the provisions of the Act, including the declaration requirement.