Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2

10 July 2013

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 554/2013

US : Lacey Act - Definitions for Exempt and Regulated Articles

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published in the Federal Register (FR) of 9 July 2013 an interim final rule that established definitions for the terms "common cultivar," "common food crop" and several related terms in response to amendments to the Lacey Act (the Act).

2. Common cultivars and common food crops are among the categorical exclusions to the provisions of the Act. The published definitions specify which plants and plant products will be excluded from the provisions of the Act, including the declaration requirement.

3. All of the changes set forth in this rule, with the exception of the definitions of "commercial scale" and "tree," will be effective 8 August 2013. The addition of the definitions of "commercial scale" and "tree" will be effective 9 September 2013 unless APHIS takes action to delay, amend, or withdraw either or both definitions. For details, please refer to the relevant FR notice at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-09/pdf/2013-16463.pdf.

ENQUIRIES

4.For enquiries concerning this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,

(Ms Linda Ng)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry