Cablegate: Info On Lacey Act Amendments Delivered

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #3603 3471314
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121314Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1148
INFO RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 5416

UNCLAS MOSCOW 003603

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RUS AND OES/ENRC (MARK JOHNSEN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV TBIO RS
SUBJECT: INFO ON LACEY ACT AMENDMENTS DELIVERED

REF: STATE 126654

1. (SBU) We shared reftel information on the recent amendments to
the Lacey Act and the phased-in implementation of new U.S. import
requirements for plant and wood products, with Russian officials in
the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, and Natural
Resources and Ecology, and in the Forestry Service and Veterinary
and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS). Natalya Lobachevo, a
senior specialist from the VPSS Phytosanitary Surveillance and Grain
Inspection Division, told us that VPSS was not surprised by the new
import rules for plant and wood products, and she expected that
other countries might adopt similar measures. None of the other
ministries or agencies offered any substantive comments on the Lacey
Act amemdments and the new import rules.

RUBIN

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