Glossary

U.S. Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3371-3378, a long-standing wildlife trafficking statute, protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations. Most notably, the Act prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. Thus, the Act underscores other federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife by making it a separate offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws. In May 2008, The U.S. Congress amended the to include trade in products made from illegally harvested wood.