Beginning January 1, 2026, USDA-APHIS will no longer accept paper Lacey Act declarations (PPQ 505/505B). All filers must transition to electronic submission through CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) or USDA’s Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS). Paper submissions will only be permitted in rare emergency situations with prior USDA approval. Deringer currently files all Lacey Act information electronically, this change only affects clients who wish to file their own Lacey data.
Key Changes
- Deadline: January 1, 2026
- Forms impacted: PPQ 505 and PPQ 505B
- Electronic systems required:
- ACE (Automated Commercial Environment)
- LAWGS (Lacey Act Web Governance System)
- Paper exceptions: Only allowed during emergencies with prior USDA approval
Why This Matters
- Compliance risk: Paper filings after Jan 1, 2026 (without emergency approval) will be non-compliant.
- Operational impact: Importers must ensure Lacey information is submitted with shipment documents or;
- Training: if self-filing Lacey data, should ensure a LAWGS account has been set up and staff are properly trained.
Due to the rapidly changing application and modifications of duty rates, please note that Deringer is not responsible for coordinating the timing of U.S. entry and imposed tariff rates.
