USDA Amends Plan to Implement Lacey Act Requirements

Under the new terms, it will not be necessary to file import declarations on small foreign shipments of music products made from wood.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended its plan for implementing Lacey Act requirements by exempting musical instruments from the necessity to file an import declaration until at least late 2010. Under an earlier implementation plan, import declarations would have been required for musical instruments beginning July 1, 2009.
 
It is still illegal to buy, sell or possess any wood or plant product, including musical instruments, where the plant material has been taken in violation of the laws of the originating country or state. In announcing its new implementation plan, the USDA did retain the import declaration requirements for certain wood product categories found in Chapter 44 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules. 
 
Additionally, the USDA announced it will only enforce import declaration requirements for so-called formal consumption entries (i.e., most commercial shipments).  It does not plan to enforce import declaration requirements for informal entries (i.e., most personal shipments), personal importations or mail importations. 
 
“This is a positive development for the music products industry,“ says NAMM Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations Mary Luehrsen, “and we will continue to be vigilant as this and other regulatory efforts unfold. “