Lacey Act (18 USC 42-43; 16 USC 3371-3378)

This Act regulates the import of any species protected by international or domestic law and prevents the spread of invasive, or non-native, species. It protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations. The Act makes it unlawful to import, export, sell, acquire, or purchase fish, wildlife or plants that are taken, possessed, transported, or sold: a) in violation of U.S. or Indian law, or a) in interstate or foreign commerce involving any fish, wildlife, or plants taken possessed or sold in violation of State or foreign law. The law covers all fish and wildlife and their parts or products, plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and those protected by State law. Commercial guiding and outfitting are considered to be a sale under the provisions of the Act. The Act shall not apply to activities regulated by plan under Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act or the Tuna Convention Acts.