APHIS Allows Importers to Use CBP’s ACE for Lacey Act Declarations at All Ports

APHIS Allows Importers to Use CBP’s ACE for Lacey Act Declarations at All Ports

 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Lacey Act Program (LAP) will allow all importers to submit their Lacey Act declarations through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). APHIS and CPB are confident that the system is now ready for full Lacey Act integration based on the sustained success of LAP’s pilot project, which has experienced no data or system errors. APHIS has determined that its information technology (IT) infrastructure is sufficiently robust to handle the expected user activity, and the Agency will continue to expand its IT capabilities through an upgrade this summer.

 

Filers may continue to use CBP’s Automated Commercial System until February 27, 2016, to submit Lacey Act declarations, but ACE use will become mandatory on February 28. We encourage all filers to use this time to test their filing systems in ACE for Lacey Act declarations.

 

All importers of wood products must submit a Lacey Act declaration. More information on the law’s requirements is available on APHIS’ Lacey Act Web page. Importers who need additional technical guidance in using the ACE should contact their CBP Client Representatives, who can be reached at (571) 468-5500.