USDA Clarification on Quantity and Unit of Measure [Lacey Act Amendments]

(CIFFA eBulletin)

The Lacey Act Amendments of 2008 require APHIS to collect information on the importation of plant material, using a Plant and Plant Product Declaration (known as the PPQ505). The quantity and unit of measure of the imported plant material must be declared. In an effort to create a uniform dataset, APHIS will no longer accept counts of items (PCS - pieces, No - number, Boxes, etc) as valid units of measure. Counts of items do not adequately address the “quantity of the plant material” required by the Act.(3372.f.1.A.ii) Counts do not allow for differences in size or weight between items, nor do they accurately reflect the actual plant content in a shipment.

Beginning May 1, 2010, APHIS is requiring that plant material quantities be reported on the declaration using standardized metric units (kg, m, m2, m3). The values should reflect the actual plant content in the product and not necessarily the product as a whole. For an example click here.