MEMBER'S QUESTION:

We recently had a customer asking us to provide our processes and certification for traceability of fiber source for our packaging and what certification we have that assures them that we are in compliance.  We responded that both of the suppliers we use are SFI certified and that we are working toward certification by year end. 

That's when I realized that I know nothing about what the Lacey Act actually requires, who it applies to, or anything else.  Can you provide some information regarding this specific Act?

ASKRalph! Responds:

“The Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3378, protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations.  Most notably, the Act prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Thus, the Act underscores other federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife by making it a separate offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws. The Act prohibits the falsification of documents for most shipments of wildlife (a criminal penalty) and prohibits the failure to mark wildlife shipments (civil penalty). The Lacey Act is administered by the Departments of the Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture through their respective agencies. These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.”

Source: Michigan State University