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One of the major successes for improving our bio-security in 2008 was Congress's adding plants to the Lacey Act's prohibition on the importation and trade in illegally harvested wildlife. The European Union is in the fall of 2008 considering similar requirements that address only their wood importers but do require them to have systems to ensure that imported wood was harvested legally.
The International Conservation Caucus in Congress in 2007 made improving control over illegal logging and trade in its products one of its priorities and that means following though to ensure that the new law is fully funded and implemented.
The term "bio-security" recognizes that combining inspection and certification improvements to control trade in illegally harvested wood and the transport of invasive species will enhance the efficiency of both efforts. |