WASHINGTON — The House Natural Resources Committee voted 25-19 on Thursday to amend the Lacey Act and significantly alter the illegal logging amendments added to the century-old law in 2008.al
Opponents of H.R. 3210 said that the bill - and a new amendment added on Thursday - essentially gut the 2008 amendments.
The bill will now go back to the House of Representatives for reporting.
Supporters of H.R. 3210 have criticized the 2008 amendments as too burdensome and difficult to enforce.
They require that all wood imports to the United States be legally harvested, not taken from protected forests and have an import declaration of species. They also require that wood not be taken in violation of forestry laws, or of laws governing export or transshipment.
H.R. 3210 exempts pulp, paper, composites and other non-solid wood products - items that represent 50% of wood imports, according to Climate Advisers, a consulting firm specializing in climate-related issues.
The firm said the new bill will also allow businesses to keep and trade wood products that have been proven to be stolen, which it said is contrary to common practice for contraband goods.
Climate Advisers also said that an amendment added on Thursday removes obligations for companies to comply with certain laws of the countries in which they operate.
