Felicia Leborgne Nowels spoke to Law360 about the impact of a new rule issued by the Trump administration that would make imports subject to an environmental law that is aimed at fighting the trafficking of unlawfully obtained wildlife and plants. The rule, part of a 2008 amendment to the Lacey Act, is expected to create challenges for importers who cannot easily determine the source of natural materials in their products. Nowels explained that the new rule will require importers to take additional steps such as asking their suppliers for documentation, going on site visits in foreign countries where their suppliers are located, and paying independent auditors to conduct inspections.
“If an importer is importing products that its affiliated company is manufacturing, and its affiliated company is working with an affiliated supplier… it is a little bit easier,” she said.