The US Department of Agriculture has revised the phase-in schedule for enforcement of the Lacey Act amendments which effectively criminalise the import of illegally felled wood.
The department made the decision to lengthen the period of each phase from three months to six months after receiving 124 comments about the phase-in plan. The phase-in will also be based on products’ degree of processing.
Sawn timber and joinery products will be in phase two (April 1-September 30), panels in phase three (October 1-March 31, 2010) and furniture and paper in phase four (April 1-September 30, 2010).
