THE U.S. LACEY ACT Frequently Asked Questions

On May 22, 2008, the U.S. Congress passed a groundbreaking law banning commerce in illegally sourced plants and their products including timber and wood products. The new law is an amendment to a 100-year-old statute, named the Lacey Act after the Congressman who first championed it. While the Lacey Act has long been one of the most powerful tools for the U.S. agencies fighting wildlife crime, it's potential to combat illegal logging remained untapped to date. Now the Lacey Act sets a groundbreaking precident for the global trade in plants and plant products, acknowledging and supporting other contries' efforts to govern their own natural resources and putting in place powerful incentives for companies trading in these commodities to do the same.

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