Shipping over the border

[Ptindy]

Whats the big deal about shipping over the border on a flight? How do you go about doing this? It just feels like there is a barrier. Are there forms and such that have to be filed out and approved before hand? And does that cost money and stuff like that? Anyone who has received a shipment from the US it would be cool if you could tell me how it was done and the price. Or if anyone just knows that'd be great!

Thanks, Mike

[Jeff_Favelle]

Depends on what you are shipping.

[Stockwell]

Yes,it is a barrier! It's supposed to be
Here's one past post. Jeff and I post on this over and over.. Do a search on importing
Here's one recent thread you can read and there are many other similar threads
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41189&highlight=importing
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50901&highlight=import

[Ptindy]

Thanks guys.

[Stockwell]

If you have any specific questions not covered in the other posts, please feel free to ask

[Ptindy]

If the exporter is located at a designated port, does he have to pay still for the inspection? And if an exporter gets the inspection done and all that will it make it to my house with no problems usually?

Mike

[Stockwell]

The US exporter will need a USF&W license, and an inspection prior to boarding the animals on the plane. There is always a charge for inspections
The license is 50US per year, and the inspection will be 55US or possibly more for CITES shipments.(up to 90US)
If the exporter doesn't do much business outside the US he/she probably wont accept these extra charges. Many don't even want to get involved with their own government. The license has to be applied for and it takes a few weeks to get, but not as long as it takes for CITES which is running 4 months now
If you're lucky enough to find someone that is willing to apply for the export license and to bood the inspection, you should be prepared to pay for that which greatly increases the cost of importing.
Regarding making it to your house...., well Not quite because it will only make it to the closest international airport, where you will have to pay GST and PST on the equivalent Canadian value.
There is no door to door service for live reptiles in Canada..

[tdherper]

Hi,

Sorry to jump in here, but I found a breeder in the US who was willing to do the paperwork on some CB Western Hermanni, and I jumped on the opportunity. We are still waiting for CITES paperwork on her side as all I need I've been told is an import license which takes a week to obtain.

My question is if I can have them shipped to the airport in Toronto, or do I have them shipped to Buffalo and drive them accross. The CFIA gives answers like "I think" and "pretty sure"- I've spoken to three different people, regarding accompaniment of the animals accross the border. Can anyone help?? Thanks...

[Stockwell]

To start with you can't bring turtles(including Tortoises) into Canada without a special permit up and above CITES. Perhaps that is the permit you are referring to.
There are very few import restrictions on herps in Canada,in in general no import license is required by Canadian law, but Chelonians unfortunately is a different case.
No import permit is required by Canada for any other herp unless it was CITES appendix one.
In general the American exporter must be the one to get the CITES export permit and also to get it validated prior to the animals leaving the country and this happens during the export inspection which must happen on US soil, in the presence of USF&W and also the valid USF&W import export license holder. This is normally done at a designated port, which are at large airports.

Once they have been inspected and the CITES validated, your US exporter will be free to board them on a plane to Canada.
Letting the US supplier do all the work is the best bet, as once it's on a plane to Canada, they have done all the work, and all you need to do is pick them up at the airport, pay your PST&GST, surrender the CITES and show your turtle import permit.
Now it gets a little complicated if you want to bring them across yourself out of Buffalo but it is also possible however YOU are now the one exporting them, and you would need to be the holder of the USF&W license. AS odd as it may seem Canadians are allowed to possess this American license for the purpose of cross border transactions. But you have to apply for it, and give reason why you need it and pay for it in greenbacks
You would also pay for the inspection which you must arrange a couple days before you intend to cross.
Since you are driving you'd also need the "exception from designated port permit" This is up and above everything else. This is because there are no designated ports on the border. They only exist at large international airport centres.

From my info page on KS, here is a link to USF&W designated ports and border ports
http://international.fws.gov/animals/wildlifeport.html

[tdherper]

Thanks for your reply Roy, it is helpful. The import permit I need from the CFIA is just a 35 dollar cash grabs, I was told the problem would be with CITES, but I spoke to an officer there, Val, and she told me only the exporter needed to get CITES paperwork and all I needed was the import license. The confusion arose when I asked whether I could fly them into Pearson, I got several uncommitted responses, so I called Val back and she said to be sure as often animals are forfeited? due to incorrect paperwork. It would be best to fly them in directly. Thanks again..

[Stockwell]

Yes, the turtle trade has been all by halted here in Canada. Many people do not realize the problems with turtles, as torts are all CITES which is international law, than in addition since they are considered a public health risk, due to Salmonella scares, a second import permit is required, and I believe that also limits what can be done with them in regard to reselling and breeding.
... If they show up at the airport or the border without both, the animals will be seized.

And yes, the first step is to see if your American supplier will be granted the CITES export permit.
It will likely be Spring before you have to worry about picking them up.. Getting CITES is now running a good 4 months.

Here's the link regarding turtle regulations and CFIA
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/import/turtlese.shtml