The Lacey Act and wooden furniture from India
Yes, it applies. Importing illegally harvested wood into the United States is illegal, and furniture needs a Lacey Act declaration naming the genus and species of each wood and the country where it was harvested. The importer or customs broker files it electronically. The hard part is the evidence: a factory that buys through timber yards often cannot name either with confidence.
When it applies to your order
- APHIS has phased the declaration in since 2009. Phase VII, in force since 1 December 2024, covers furniture along with other wood products.
- Coverage is set by HTS code. Check yours in the APHIS implementation schedule: a few codes, including some wooden kitchen furniture under 9403.40.90, were left off the original Phase VII list and flagged for a later correction.
- Paper declarations ended on 1 January 2026. Filings go through CBP's ACE or the APHIS Lacey Act Web Governance System.
What it has to contain
From the APHIS declaration requirements. Your customs broker files it; the species and country of harvest have to come from your supply chain.
| Element | What it means |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Genus and species of each plant in the product. If the species varies, list every species that may have been used. |
| Country of harvest | Where the tree was cut, not where the furniture was made. If it varies, list every country it may have come from. |
| Value | Of the goods on the entry line. |
| Quantity | Of plant material, in metric units. |
| HTS code | The tariff code of the furniture. |
| Shipment details | Description, bill of lading, container number, manufacturer identification code (MID). |
| Parties | Importer and consignee names and addresses, and the importer of record or agent. |
Naming the wood in an Indian supply chain
Many Jodhpur factories buy timber through yards, so the species and the forest of origin are two steps removed from the workshop.
| Wood on the invoice | Genus and species | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Sheesham | Dalbergia sissoo | Timber purchase records and transit permits; CITES status of the goods, since Dalbergia is a listed genus |
| Mango | Mangifera indica | Timber purchase records naming the species and where it was cut |
| Acacia | Several species are sold under this name | The botanical name of the species actually used |
| Reclaimed wood | Often unknown | Ask your broker about APHIS special use designations for reclaimed material |
More on the three common woods in the sheesham vs mango vs acacia guide.
What does not need declaring
- Packaging only. Crates, pallets and dunnage used only to carry the furniture are excepted, unless the packaging is itself the import. They still need ISPM 15 treatment and marking.
- Very little plant material. Products where plant material is no more than 5% of the weight of the unit, with no more than 2.9 kg per entry line.
- Common cultivars and food crops, except trees. This does not cover furniture timber.
What an inspector can and cannot do
We do
- Record the species, and the country-of-harvest evidence the supply chain can actually support, for your Lacey declaration.
- Tell you plainly what cannot be verified.
- Check timber records as part of a factory audit (A-03, material control).
We do not
- File your Lacey Act declaration. That is your importer or customs broker.
- Invent a country of harvest the chain never recorded.
- Give legal advice on your obligations.
The full US picture, including TSCA Title VI and tip-over rules: importing furniture from India to the USA.
Lacey Act questions
Does the Lacey Act apply to wooden furniture imported from India?
Yes. It is illegal to import illegally harvested plant products into the United States, and APHIS requires a Lacey Act declaration for furniture under Phase VII, in force since 1 December 2024. Check your exact HTS code against the APHIS implementation schedule.
What does a Lacey Act declaration need?
The genus and species of each wood, the country where it was harvested, the value, the quantity of plant material in metric units, the HTS code, and shipment and party details such as the bill of lading, container number and manufacturer identification code.
Who files the Lacey Act declaration?
The importer or its customs broker, electronically through CBP's ACE or the APHIS Lacey Act Web Governance System (LAWGS). APHIS has not accepted paper PPQ 505 forms since 1 January 2026. An inspection company does not file it.
What if my Indian supplier does not know the species or where the wood was cut?
APHIS lets you list every species, and every country, that may have been used when the exact one varies. That is a fallback, not a shortcut: ask for the evidence the supply chain can actually support, and do not let anyone invent a country of harvest.
Do I declare the crates and pallets the furniture ships on?
Not usually. Wood used only as packaging to support, protect or carry the goods is excepted from the declaration, unless the packaging is itself the item imported. The packaging still has to meet ISPM 15.
What about reclaimed or recycled wood furniture?
APHIS provides special use designations for composite, recycled, reused and reclaimed material, for when the species cannot be identified. Ask your broker which applies before the order ships.
Sources: APHIS, Lacey Act, declaration requirements and implementation schedule. Checked 10 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Get the species evidence before the container ships
Tell us the factory and the products. We reply with what can be verified, and a fixed quote, within 24 hours.
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