Lacey Act declaration and wood import checks for lumber into the US

Last updated: 17 October 2026. Product coverage and filing rules change. Confirm each point with APHIS and your customs broker.

Importing lumber and other wood products into the US can require a Lacey Act declaration. It names what the wood is, where it was harvested, how much there is and what it is worth. The declaration has to agree with your invoice and with the rest of your paperwork. This guide lists what is required and the mismatches to look for.

What the declaration must contain.

Under the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3372(f)), it is unlawful to import a plant unless a declaration is filed on importation. The statute lists four items:

• the scientific name of the plant, including genus and species
• the value of the importation
• the quantity, including the unit of measure
• the name of the country from which the plant was taken

The declaration requirement does not apply to plants used only as packaging, unless the packaging is itself the imported item.

How APHIS says to file.

• The importer of record or their agent files the declaration.
• The primary method is ACE, the US Customs and Border Protection system. APHIS also offers its own web system, LAWGS, as an alternative.
• APHIS stopped accepting paper forms PPQ 505 and 505B on 1 January 2026.
• For each plant material the filer needs the scientific name and the country of harvest. APHIS allows special use designations in place of a scientific name only in certain circumstances.
• APHIS tells importers to know the supply chain for each piece of plant material in the product.

Which products are covered.

APHIS began Phase VII on 1 December 2024, which brought certain plant and wood products that previously needed no declaration under the requirement. APHIS gives furniture, sporting goods, housewares, tools, boats and vehicles, and cork as examples. Common cultivars (except trees) and common food crops are excluded. APHIS publishes an implementation schedule and a product lookup tool that you can search by HTS chapter, heading, article or effective date.

In ACE, filers can enter a disclaimer code instead of a declaration when a product is not regulated, is covered by an APHIS policy, or was already filed another way. APHIS lists a de minimis code for products where plant material is no more than 5 percent of the unit's weight and the entry's total plant material does not exceed 2.9 kg. Protected species are not exempt.

Why accuracy matters.

The Lacey Act also makes it unlawful to import plants taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of a US law, treaty or regulation (16 U.S.C. 3372(a)(1)). Civil penalties can apply to a person who "in the exercise of due care should know" that a plant was illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Criminal penalties apply to knowing violations, including knowing violations of the declaration requirement (16 U.S.C. 3373). The declaration is the record that shows where your wood came from.

Wood packaging.

Pallets, crates and dunnage are regulated separately. APHIS says wood packaging material that supports, protects or carries cargo into the US must be treated and certified under ISPM 15. APHIS lists these problems inspectors look for: a stamp that is illegible or does not meet the standard, no stamp at all, signs of infestation such as exit holes and frass, and a mix of new and old wood.

Mismatches to look for.

1. The scientific name is missing or vague. The invoice shows a trade name or a common name and the declaration needs genus and species.
2. The species differs between documents. The declaration, the supplier's documents and the product label name different species.
3. The country of harvest is confused with the country of export or manufacture. Wood harvested in one country and milled or assembled in another has two origins.
4. The quantity or unit differs from the invoice. For example cubic metres on one document and board feet or kilograms on another.
5. The value differs from the invoice.
6. The HTS code on the entry does not match the product or its declaration lines.
7. A disclaimer is used for a covered product.
8. The wood packaging mark is missing, illegible or inconsistent across pallets in the same container.

Checks to run before you ship.

1. Ask each supplier for the genus, species and country of harvest of every plant material, in writing.
2. Compare those details with the invoice, packing list, label and any certificate.
3. Compare the quantity, unit and value on the draft declaration with the invoice.
4. Check the HTS code against APHIS's product lookup to see whether a declaration applies, and which disclaimer, if any, is allowed.
5. Agree with your customs broker who files, through ACE or LAWGS, and by when.
6. Check the marking and condition of the wood packaging.
7. Keep a dated record of each check, and repeat it whenever a supplier, species or source changes.

Common questions.

Who files the Lacey Act declaration?

The importer of record or their agent, through ACE or APHIS's LAWGS system. APHIS no longer accepts paper forms.

What information does the declaration need?

The statute lists the scientific name of the plant, the value, the quantity with its unit of measure, and the country from which the plant was taken. APHIS says filers need genus and species and the country of harvest for each plant material.

Do wood pallets need a declaration?

The statute excludes plants used only as packaging unless the packaging is itself the imported item. Wood packaging material has separate ISPM 15 treatment and marking requirements.

Sources.

• APHIS, File a Lacey Act declaration
• US Code, 16 U.S.C. 3372, prohibited acts and import declarations
• US Code, 16 U.S.C. 3373, penalties and sanctions
• APHIS, Wood packaging material

This guide is information, not legal advice. Product coverage, filing methods and penalties change. Confirm the current rules with APHIS and your customs broker.