U.S. Says It Will Enforce Lacey Act Amendments

Washington, DC, Oct. 15, 2008--U.S. government agencies held the first public meeting to present the government's commitment to enforce a new law amending the U.S. Lacey Act to prohibit trade in products that contain illegally logged wood.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Interior, and the Department of Justice outlined plans that focus on a phased-in approach for the requirement to declare the origin and species of the plant material contained in a wide variety of products.

The agencies announced that the enforcement of the declaration requirement will begin on April 1 for plants, timber and solid wood products, to coincide with the availability of a web-based declaration system. Other products of concern, such as furniture and paper, will be phased in subsequently over a two year time frame.

The underlying prohibition on trade in products that contain illegally logged wood has already been in place since May of this year.

The Lacey Act amendments were a response to the global problem of illegal logging, which costs developing countries an estimated $15 billion a year in lost revenue, contributes to the 20% of annual total greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation, and supports organized crime around the world.