BRAZIL RESPSONE TO IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDED LACEY ACT -

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001640 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/ENCR - M. JOHNSEN DEPT FOR OES/PCI - N. FITE AND L.SPERLING DEPT FOR WHA/BSC - D. SCHNIER DEPT FOR USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV BTIO BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL RESPSONE TO IMPLEMENTATION OF AMENDED LACEY ACT - SEEKS MORE INFORMATION REF: A) STATE 126654, B) BRASILIA 1399 ¶1. (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶2. (SBU) On December 9, Environment, Science and Technology, and Health (ESTH) Counselor briefed Antonio Carlos Hummel, Director for the Department of Forests, in the Brazilian environmental agency (IBAMA) about the amendments to the Lacey Act, including the impending need to have a plant import declaration (REFTEL A). ¶3. (SBU) Hummel and his staff were very interested in the amendments and its relationship to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora. On a more practical level, they were interested in the details of the plant import declaration, and how it would be filled out. We have informed him that based on the information on the APHIS website, the importer to the United States would be the one to sign the form. IBAMA has run into difficulty in working with other branches of the Brazilian government with export documentation and certifications, specifically with the customs officials and the CITES certificates. (SEE REFTEL B). Thus, IBAMA has decided to take remedial action and take complete control for CITES imports and exports. ¶4. (SBU) NOTE. On August 21, 2006, the Environment Ministry adopted a new regulation (IN 112) which requires the use of a control document, called the Documento de Origem Florestal (DOF) or the Forest Origin Document. The DOF is used in connection with transportation and storage of unprocessed wood. IBAMA issues the DOF. The DOF is a domestic tool to help reduce illegal logging. END NOTE. ¶5. (SBU) Hummel said he and his staff would like to have a video conference with USG counterparts to discuss in further detail how this new policy will be implemented. Post supports this suggestion and is ready to work with USG agencies to organize this discussion, including providing an interpreter. SOBEL