Importing Reptiles from the US???

[Greg West]

I took this from the Government website. Does this mean that we don't need to get impost / export permits or health inspections done to bring reptiles into Canada? Do exporters from the US still need to have their animals inspected before they leave the US???


Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Animal Products
Animal Health and Production


Importation of Amphibians and Reptiles
Amphibians such as salamanders, frogs toads, newts
Reptiles such as snakes, crocodiles, caiman, iguanas, turtles, tortoises, geckos

All Amphibians and Reptiles
(Excluding Turtles and Tortoises)

The pet import requirements outlined in this page are current as of 2003-4-10.


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Please be advised that amphibians and reptiles (excluding turtles and tortoises) are no longer regulated under the Health of Animals Regulations and as a result, no Canadian Food Inspection Agency import permit is required, nor a health certificate and no inspection will normally be done at the border. Imports are permitted from any country, for any use, to any destination in Canada.

Turtles and Tortoises

An import permit* is required for turtles and tortoises from all countries.

For personal pets, these animals must have been in the owner’s personal possession in the country of origin and accompany the owner to Canada.

For research and scientific purposes within a laboratory, display in a recognized zoo, they do not need to be accompanied, but still require a permit

Turtle and Tortoise Eggs

An import permit* is required for turtle and tortoise eggs from all countries, BUT WILL ONLY BE ISSUED TO ZOOS AND RESEARCH LABORATORIES.

The reason for restrictions on turtles, tortoises and their eggs is that there is a great danger of transmitting serious diseases, such as salmonella. Until a Risk Assessment demonstrates safety, no permits will be issued for turtle and tortoise eggs for personal use or commercial purposes (ie. Pet Shops).

*Please complete an Application for Permit to Import and forward it to the CFIA Area Import Office in the province into which you wish to import the animal(s).

NOTE: Please apply for a permit at least 30 days in advance of the import.

Endangered Species List

The importation of reptiles into Canada may be subject to the control of the Canadian Wildlife Services (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [CITES]). Please contact them at (613) 997-1840, (819) 953-6283 or have a look at their website at: www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca

Fees

Fees are applicable when applying for an import permit, approval of a quarantine facility, and inspection of animals. The CFIA Area Import Office will advise you on the fees that apply to your particular situation.

Automated Import Reference Systems (AIRS)

The purpose of the AIRS is to provide information on import requirements for all commodities regulated by CFIA. The application uses a question and answer approach to guide the user through a series of questions about the Harmonized System (HS) Codes, origin, destination, end use and miscellaneous qualifiers of the product they wish to import.

If you wish to view the import requirements for turtles or tortoises, please refer to AIRS
(http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca). HS Codes for turtles and tortoises: 01 06 20 2085


Click here to send comments or requests for additional information on this document

[Lisa]

If they are not cites or turtles you should have no problem

[Greg West]

Im just wondering as I had to pay duty, inspection fees when they left the US and also an export liscence for the breeder to send me my bearded dragons. Was what I had to pay required by the US, or did the rules just change, and not you don't require all of that.

Greg West

[norman]

Greg if you have the time could you pm me and tell me exactly what you had to do and what the expences were to import those beardies? I have been wondering about this for a while.
Thanks
pete

[McPatch]

Greg
I have a buddy that works at the border.He was in the bar last night and I just happend to ask him the question about bringing reptiles into Canada.He was not 100% sure so he is now going to check into it(for me and himself in case he encounters someone bringing reptiles in)He is going to get back to me next wee.I'll let you know what he says.
Darren

[Vanan]

Also, are we allowed any number of non-CITES, non-chelonian species? Wonder what the limit is, if any. Last few time I checked they kept changing it.

[Greg West]

Heres what I went by from the kinksnake site .

US IMPORT/EXPORT INFO
For Americans Exporting from the U.S.A. (Canadians should be familiar with these steps too)
All animals leaving or entering the USA must be inspected by US fish & wildlife This is generally done at what is known as a designated port. If you are not located at a designated port you must contact your local branch of USF&W and arrange an inspection. At this point a document called a 3-177 will be completed. It is a declaration of import/export of wildlife. This must be done with all animals regardless of whether they are listed under the Washington Convention (CITES).
It is also possible and fairly common to have animals shipped first to a designated port for inspection and clearance, before heading on to the consignee. This is done when the shipper or recipient in the US is not near a designated port. It can however, sometimes get complicated and expensive because a broker can be required to transfer the shipment and arrange for fish&wildlife inspection. This is especially true if different air carriers are involved since Airlines are not obliged to move your cargo, especially into the hands of a competitive Airline. So if you need to hire a broker this can mean that your animals are being put into the hands of a middle man who might very well hate herps(or love them and steal your shipment). It's a bit scary to have someone opening your animals in the middle of their journey to your customer.

If the animals are CITES listed and are Appendix 2 you need to apply To the US department of the interior/F&W for a CITES export permit. This must then be stamped by a wildlife agent at the time of the inspection otherwise the permit is not valid...
You will also now need (since I think bout 97) a US fish and wildlife IMPORT EXPORT license... you need to apply for it. It is $50.00 and is good for only one year. If you are not getting your inspection at a Designated port you may also be required to apply for what's called an "Exception to Designated Port"permit. It's about $25US bucks and is good for 2 years.

For Canadians taking animals into or out of the USA
If you are taking animals across the border in a car, you need to apply for and obtain this US fish and wildlife IMPORT EXPORT license... and yes also the exception from designated port permit if you have more than just a few animals.

You must phone US F&W in advance and arrange for an inspection 48 hrs before you cross. An agent will be dispatched to the crossing of your choice(See the list of Border Ports) . You will be charged for the inspection. $55US standard, more if its CITES or outside of business hours. A 3-177 declaration will need to be completed at the time of the inspection. I recommend pre ordering this form from USF&W and filling them out ahead of time. It makes the wildlife agents happy and you are more likely to know the Scientific names, which must be shown on the declaration. It's also helpful to take a book with pictures to help verify the species.

This is the way it went for me... I was wondering if this was still valid or if the rules have been changed. The way I read the new one, is if you were to cross the border buy a reptile in the States and bring it with you across the Canadian border you don't require anything in terms of paperwork or inspections. Not sure if this is what is correct or not.

Greg West

[Greg West]

Credit goes to Roy Stockwell for the above information

Forgot to copy that part.

[cyberfrog]

From the US to Canada, no problems. From Canada to the US, problems. Props to Canada for not making it impossible for people to make a living doing something like this. The American laws and regs on importation are a pain in the @$$.

[Greg West]

are you required to pay for the inspections permits etc if they are coming from the US to Canada? Thats what I was wondering. When I got my beardies from the US the inspection was done in the US. Is that a US side requirement, and was it required to bring the beardies in? Same with the export liscence the breeder had to get

[HQReptiles]

Greg,

If you are bringing reptiles from the US into Canada you are required by USF&W to have an inspection ($55 for non-CITIES) and pay a user fee ($5 USD) for the use of the boarder office. You will more then likely have to pay for an import export permit, I was told there are no exceptions for non US residents but this may be different if you are crossing a different boarder point. I know that they allow US residents to bring home items (from hunting for example) with no permit. If the person selling you the animals has an import export license they should be able to have them inspected at a designated port of exit and shipped from that port to Canada. You would then have a nice little piece of paper saying that they cleared USF&W.

Canada does not require you to have the inspection form, but by not having one you are breaking US law. If you happen to have one of the spot inspections on the US side before coming home, you are in BIG trouble.

As for the Canadian side, have documentation for the animals stating with pictures and both common names and scientific name what the animal is and that it is not listed as a CITIES animal. Make sure you have a receipt because you will be required to pay taxes and duty. We have often been waved right by the Canadian side but always have a US inspection completed just in case. You don’t want to lose your car or worse.


Hope this helps

Matt.

[Burmies]

I have never had anything shipped to me from the US before, but I think you need a permit to ship them over the border.

Burmies

[Greg West]

Thats what I thought. Thanks Matt. I knew thats what I had to do, but I was on their site and it said it was updated recently, so I wasn't sure if it changed anything or not. Thanks

Greg West