Lacey Act of 1900

The Lacey Act of 1900 is a conservation law in the United States that, as amended, now prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.

Introduced into Congress by Representative John F. Lacey, an Iowa Republican, the Act was signed into law by President William McKinley on May 25, 1900. It now protects both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for those who violate the rules and regulations (16 U.S.C. 3371-3378). The law authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to aid in restoring game and birds in parts of the U.S. where they have become extinct or rare. It also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to regulate the introduction of wild birds and mammals to places where they have never existed before, known as injurious wildlife species (18 U.S.C. 42).

Congress broadened the law to prohibit the import, export, transport, purchase, or sale of species when that action would violate state, federal, tribal, or foreign law. A 2008 amendment added coverage for timber and timber products. Various provisions of the Act are enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the U.S. Forest Service.