Cablegate: Demarche On Implementation of Amended Lacey Act

VZCZCXRO9207
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3325 3400851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050851Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9235
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1281
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9277
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3641
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5072
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1851
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3447

UNCLAS TOKYO 003325

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/J AND OES/ENRC - MARK JOHNSEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD EAGR BTIO PREL JA
SUBJECT: Demarche on Implementation of Amended Lacey Act

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY

REF: STATE 126654

1. (U) Environmental Officer, Senior Animal and Plant Health
Officer, and Agricultural Scientist met with Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' (MOFA) Second North America Division Deputy Director
Tsuyoshi Uchida, Global Environment Division's Toshihisa Kato,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' (MAFF)
International Economic Affairs Division Assistant Director Tsuyoshi
Iwata, Export Promotion Office Assistant Director Junsuke Imai, and
Wood Products Trade Office Assistant Director Rumiko Yamanouchi
December 4 to deliver Reftel points.

2. (U) The MAFF officials said it will be difficult to identify the
country of origin for wood products in the absence of domestic
labeling requirements, especially for small companies that do not
source their wood directly. Currently, Japan has no such labeling
requirements. Imai hoped there would be an exemption for small
quantities such as the personal effects of Japanese moving to the
U.S. The MAFF officials indicated they would like to participate in
the public comment process for the revised Lacey Act implementing
rules and said they look forward to further clarification of the
implementing rules.

3. (SBU) In addition, the MAFF officials said Japanese paper
manufacturing companies had contacted them to ask the Embassy to
brief their representatives. The paper companies are concerned
about possible negative impacts on their business from the changes
to the Lacey Act. APHIS Officer said he would be happy to hold a
briefing but believed it would be more useful if it took place after
the additional implementing regulations have been published.

SCHIEFFER

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