Comments Sought on Implementation of Lacey Act Import Declaration

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on the implementation of the declaration required for wood and other plant imports, including the effect of certain exclusions from those requirements.

NAMM intends to file comments by the April 14, 2011 deadline and will restate NAMM’s position that an import declaration should not be required for musical instruments manufactured prior to the May 22, 2008 effective date of the Lacey Act amendments. NAMM has expressed this position before and APHIS had responded by noting that special disclosures can be made for pre-2008 products in lieu of the scientific name of the plant species used and the country of harvest.

Any NAMM member wishing to comment on the import declaration implementation may do so electronically at http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=APHIS-2008-0119-0259

Summary information about the docket posting: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2008-0119-0259

To view comments by others: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;rpp=10;po=0;D=APHIS-2008-0119

Comments may also address other issues relating to the implementation and enforcement of the 2008 Lacey Act amendments and will be considered as APHIS and other government agencies prepare a required report to Congress.