S. 2804: Strengthen Wood Products Supply Chain Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Strengthen Wood Products Supply Chain Act of 2025, aims to modify the management of plants detained under the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act regulates the importation of plants and plant products to prevent illegal trafficking and ensure sustainability. The proposed changes focus on the procedures that the Secretary of the Interior, via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, must follow when plants are detained for suspected violations.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Timeline for Detention Management: The bill establishes that within five days of a plant being presented for examination to the Secretary due to suspected violations, the Secretary must either release the plant or issue a notice of detention outlining why the plant is being held.
• Notice of Detention: If a notice of detention is issued, it must include specific reasons for the detention, the expected duration of the hold, and details about the tests that will be conducted on the plants. It must also inform importers of the option to apply for permission to transport the plants under bond for examination at another location.
• Inspection Results: Should the Secretary conduct tests on detained plants, they are required to provide the importer with the results of those tests and enough information for the importer to replicate the tests if desired.
• Transporting Detained Plants: The bill stipulates that within ten days after a detention notice is issued, plants can be moved outside of U.S. Customs control for storage purposes, provided certain conditions are met, including payment of fees and compliance with legal regulations.
• Final Determinations: The Secretary must make a final decision on the admissibility of the detained plants within 30 days. If this does not occur, it will be considered a denial of entry.
• Protest Rights: Importers can protest against the Secretary’s decision to deny entry of the plants. The Secretary must respond to the protest within 30 days by either allowing the protest and releasing the plants or denying it.
• Regulations Development: The Secretary is mandated to devise regulations to implement the provisions of this bill within 180 days following its enactment.

Purpose of the Bill

The primary goal of the bill is to enhance clarity and efficiency in how plant imports are handled when there are suspicions of legal violations. By setting specific timelines and requirements for communication, it seeks to ensure that importers have fair processes available to contest detentions and to facilitate better management of plant goods entering the U.S. market.

Relevant Companies

• None found