There’s a new Lacey Act Declaration form for imported plants and plant products; and APHIS, the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, is doing its best to make sure importers are completing the form correctly.
Since the new form (referred to as PPQ 505) is in a slightly different format than the previous version, APHIS has published an example of a completed form on their website. The completed sample pdf form can be downloaded here.
APHIS has also posted a list of dos and don’ts for the form, including,
- DO use metric units (kilograms or meters) instead of pieces and numbers
- DON’T use semi-colons when completing the electronic version of the form
- DO include the plant’s genus and species, and country of harvest for each article/component listed
- DON’T forget to double check that your data is accurate and complete, as the importer is ultimately responsible for the information provided in the declaration (even if a broker submitted the declaration on the importer’s behalf)
You can download a blank version of the form from our website, here.