This legislation establishes clear requirements for the Secretary of the Interior regarding the detention of plants suspected of violating the Lacey Act. It mandates that within five days of plants being presented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Secretary must either release them or issue a comprehensive notice of detention to the importer, detailing the specific reasons, anticipated length, and nature of planned tests. The bill requires the Secretary to provide importers with test results and allows them, under certain conditions, to transport detained plants to off-site storage under bond within ten days of a detention notice. A critical provision sets a 30-day deadline for the Secretary to make a final determination on the admissibility of detained plants from their initial presentation. Failure to meet this 30-day deadline is treated as a decision to exclude the plants, which importers can formally protest to the Secretary or challenge in court. This framework aims to create a more transparent and timely process for handling plant detentions under the Lacey Act, ensuring due process for importers.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Environmental Protection
Strengthen Wood Products Supply Chain Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-2804| Senate
| Updated: 9/15/2025
This legislation establishes clear requirements for the Secretary of the Interior regarding the detention of plants suspected of violating the Lacey Act. It mandates that within five days of plants being presented by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Secretary must either release them or issue a comprehensive notice of detention to the importer, detailing the specific reasons, anticipated length, and nature of planned tests. The bill requires the Secretary to provide importers with test results and allows them, under certain conditions, to transport detained plants to off-site storage under bond within ten days of a detention notice. A critical provision sets a 30-day deadline for the Secretary to make a final determination on the admissibility of detained plants from their initial presentation. Failure to meet this 30-day deadline is treated as a decision to exclude the plants, which importers can formally protest to the Secretary or challenge in court. This framework aims to create a more transparent and timely process for handling plant detentions under the Lacey Act, ensuring due process for importers.