Lacey Act Implementation Plan: De Minimis Exception
conservation · Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · Rule · Published 2020-03-02 · Effective 2020-04-01 · 85 FR 12207
Document
Document number
2020-04165
Federal Register citation
85 FR 12207
CFR reference
7 CFR 357
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
conservation
Sub-agency
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Publication date
2020-03-02
Effective date
2020-04-01
USDA docket
Docket No. APHIS-2013-0055
Abstract
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. The declaration requirement of the Lacey Act became effective on December 15, 2008, and enforcement of that requirement is being phased in. We are amending the regulations to establish an exception to the declaration requirement for products containing a minimal amount of plant materials. This action would relieve the burden on importers while continuing to ensure that the declaration requirement fulfills the purposes of the Lacey Act.