This bill amends the Lacey Act to establish clearer and faster procedures for handling wood products detained for inspection, including timelines for notifications, testing, and appeals, while also allowing importers to move detained goods under certain conditions.
Rudy Yakym
Representative
IN-2
The "Strengthen Wood Product Supply Chains Act of 2025" amends the Lacey Act to revise the process for handling merchandise detained for inspection. It requires the Secretary to issue a detention notice to the importer within 5 days of detaining merchandise, allow importers to move detained merchandise to a non-government controlled location, and release or seize the merchandise within 30 days of the initial detention. The bill also allows importers to request administrative review of a seizure and file a claim in a U.S. District Court if necessary.
Lacey Act Update: Bill Sets Tighter Timelines for Detained Wood Imports, Shifts Burden to Feds
This legislation overhauls the process for handling imported wood products flagged for inspection under the Lacey Act—a key law aimed at preventing trade in illegally harvested timber and wildlife. Section 2 introduces strict deadlines and new procedures, requiring officials to notify importers within 5 days about why merchandise is detained or else release it. The goal is to create a more predictable and potentially faster system for items like lumber, furniture, or paper products entering the U.S.
Putting Imports on the Clock
Once that 5-day detention notice is issued, it must detail the reason for detention, the expected duration, planned tests, and any information that could speed things up. From the initial detention date, officials have a hard 30-day deadline to either release the merchandise or formally seize it. Missing this deadline automatically counts as a seizure under the proposed rules. This structure is designed to push government agencies towards quicker decisions on potentially suspect imports.
Importers Gain More Control
Importers gain significant new options under this bill. Within 10 days of receiving a detention notice, they can request to move the detained goods from government control to an approved private location, provided they pay related fees and post a bond. This could reduce storage costs and give importers more oversight. If officials conduct tests on the merchandise, they must share the results and testing methodology with the importer. Furthermore, if goods are seized (either formally or by missing the 30-day deadline), importers have the right to request an administrative review of that decision.
The Courtroom Shift: Who Proves What?
If the administrative review upholds the seizure, the importer can take the case to a U.S. District Court. This section introduces a crucial change in legal proceedings: the burden of proof shifts. Instead of the importer needing to demonstrate the goods are legal, the government must prove to the court that it had a valid reason for not making an admissibility decision within the timeframe. This could make it easier for importers to challenge detentions and potentially secure the release of their goods if the government's justification for delays or seizure is deemed insufficient. The core tension here lies in balancing the need for efficient trade against the resources and time required for thorough enforcement against illegal logging.