01 / REVIEW
Identify the transaction
Record the stated scientific name, product form, trade direction and relevant parties for the qualified reviewer. Common trade names alone may not establish the applicable requirements.
02 / REVIEW
Use the responsible authority
Lacey declaration requirements and CITES documentation are different subjects. APHIS provides current guidance; the importer, broker or qualified adviser must determine what applies to the transaction. Do not use this site as a filing service.
03 / REVIEW
Link rather than infer
Keep document identifiers and shipment relationships in the record. A declaration or permit is not interchangeable with a sustainability certificate, and an internal checklist is not a legal determination.
Keep operational records and filing requirements distinct
A good lot record can support later review, but it is not a declaration that a transaction meets every legal requirement. Establish the product, transaction, destination and date before deciding which official instructions apply. Keep the current filing requirements with the responsible compliance process.
Do not use a generic certificate image as a substitute for the required record. Preserve the actual submission or document reference, its scope and the material relationship. This guide organizes questions; it does not determine whether a particular shipment may be imported or sold.
Prepare a review packet
| Packet element | What it should make clear |
|---|---|
| Transaction identity | Which shipment and parties are involved |
| Material identity | Description and lot references as documented |
| Quantity basis | Units and any recorded conversions |
| Source documents | Issuer, date, revision and scope |
| Open question | Specific requirement or relationship needing qualified review |
Use the official agency links below to confirm current instructions. Save the version or access date used for the review. An old completed form can be a historical record without being a reliable template for the next transaction.
When an official requirement asks for information you do not have, route that gap to the responsible party. Do not infer it from a seller’s address or a species photograph. The operational record should make the missing field easy to identify and resolve.
A lot-record scenario
Fictional example: a team receives a CITES-related document and still has a Lacey applicability question. The workspace keeps two review items instead of treating one document as closing both.
Use the result
Keep the completed review with the relevant project record. Assign unresolved items before relying on a conclusion. If the material, condition or document changes, revisit the affected questions.
Evidence workspaceTechnical references
General background for the subject. Project worksheets and fictional situations are original review aids, not official agency forms.
APHIS: Lacey declaration guidance