APHIS to Launch Online Tool for Submission of Lacey Act Declarations
An online submission tool for Lacey Act declarations is on its way in late 2013, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS) will allow submission of Lacey Act Plant and Product Declarations (PPQ Form 505) electronically online, without needing to mail in a paper declaration, the agency said. The tool will also save commonly used declaration data in templates for “quick and easy future submissions,” said APHIS.
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The LAWGS tool is not meant to replace the Automated Broker Interface process currently used to file Lacey Act declarations electronically, APHIS said.
APHIS intends to launch LAWGS in late 2013. In the run-up, APHIS said it will hold webinars on LAWGS for stakeholders interested in learning about the new system. Individuals or groups interested in participating in the webinars should send an email request with the subject line “LAWGS webinar” to lacey.act.declaration@aphis.usda.gov. In the body of the email, APHIS said to include: organization name; organization type (law firm, retailer, manufacturer, etc.); number of participants; requested dates and times for the webinar; and interest in information on the Lacey Act beyond an introduction to LAWGS. APHIS said it will hold “several webinar sessions over the coming weeks and months.”