Broad Expansion of LACEY Act Import Declarations Proposed: Public Comment Period Ends June 1
April 1, 2020: Broad Expansion of LACEY Act Import Declarations Proposed: Public Comment Period Ends June 1
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed a broad expansion of Lacey Act requirements for imported products containing wood or other plant material to file a declaration (Form PPQ 505) at the time of importation. The proposal would require a declaration to be filed for the following categories of musical instruments and accessories described in Chapter 92 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), Ch. 92 Headings (musical instruments):
- 9205902000-wind musical instruments: bagpipes
- 9205904020-clarinets
- 9205904080-other (woodwind instruments)
- 9205904060-flutes and piccolos
- 9206002000-drums
- 9207900040-musical instruments (fretted string instruments)
- 9209.92-parts and accessories for musical instruments of heading 9202
- 9209928000-parts and accessories for musical instruments
- 9209992000-parts and accessories for bagpipes
- 9209994040-parts and accessories for other woodwind instruments
- 9209998000-parts and accessories for musical instruments of heading 9202, other
Declaration requirements, if adopted, would go into effect on October 1, 2020. Public comments will be received via the Federal eRulemaking Portal until June 1, 2020.
Since the Lacey Act was amended in 2008 to cover all wood and plant material, APHIS has phased in the declaration filing requirements, which, under the law, are applicable to all imports. At the present time, an import declaration is required only for pianos and other stringed instruments (HTS Codes 9201 and 9202).
For more information contact: Ms. Dorothy Wayson, National Policy Manager, Lacey Act Program, Compliance and Environmental Coordination Branch, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 150, Riverdale, MD 20737; (301) 851–2036.