ATT: New Shipping Requirements

leoncurrie · 07-15-04, 07:35 PM

I went to the airport today and my shipment was rejected based on the fact that the snake was in a Styrofoam/Cardboard container. This is the literature that the employee at Air Canada Cargo provided to me. He said that my snake would not be shipped unless it met the following requirements:

CONTAINER REQUIREMENT 44

Applicable to Snakes

The following instructions must be compiled with in addition to the principles laid down in the General Container Requirements for Reptiles and Amphibians.

Measurement

Snakes should be measured by total length (TL) and by body width (BW), at the widest point of the animal¡¯s body.

Care should be taken that these animals are never stretched during measurement. Measurements of width should be taken with the animal resting in normal posture.

Specific Requirements

All rigid containers must have some kind of packing material (i.e. crumpled paper). Packing material is also recommended for bags.

Burlap (hessian) sacks are not allowed for any snake species less than 120 cm (48 in).

The maximum number of animals per bag or container must not be increased even when larger bags or containers are used.

Packing Density for Snakes in Flat Lying Bags
Total length / Body width / Max # animals per bag / Minimum bag size
¡Ý 120cm (48in) / > 4cm(1.5in) / 1 / Dependent on the size of the animal
¡Ý 90-120cm ¡À 15cm (36-48in ¡À 6in) / ¡Ü 4cm(1.5in) / 8 / 45 ¡Á 60cm (18 ¡Á24in)
4 / 30 ¡Á 45cm (12 ¡Á 18in)
¡Ý 60¨C90cm ¡À 10cm (24¨C36 in ¡À 4in) / ¡Ü 4cm (1.5in) / 12 / 45 ¡Á 60cm (18 ¡Á24in)
8 / 30 ¡Á 45cm(12 ¡Á 18in)
¡Ý 30¨C60cm ¡À 10cm (12¨C24in ¡À 4in) / ¡Ü 4cm(1.5in) / 14 / 30 ¡Á 45cm(12 ¡Á 18in)
¡Ü 30cm ¡À 7.5cm(12¡À3in) / ¡Ü 4cm(1.5in) / 24 / 30 ¡Á 45cm(12 ¡Á 18 in)

Exception for Stout Bodied Python Regius (Ball Pythons)
All lengths up to 120 cm (48 in) (15 cm [6 in] variance) / >4cm(1.5 in) / 8 / 45 ¡Á 60 cm
(18 ¡Á 24 in)
All other lengths / < 4cm(1.5in) / Same as in snake table above / Same as in snake table above

If the bag is suspended, it must be suspended horizontally from the opposite ends and the maximum number of animals per bat should be divided by two.

Plastic containers are permissible for snakes less than 60 cm (24 in) in length. These containers must be rigid and able to support the entire weight of all other containers when stacked upright and if turned upside down, without failing structurally (without bending, cracking or collapsing). The size of these containers must enable the animals to have contact with their whole ventral surface to the floor of the container.

The following snake species should be packed singly because they are cannibalistic:

Black-headed python, woma (Aspiditis spp.) Milk and king snakes (lampropeltis) Mussurana (Clelia clelia)

* PLEASE NOTE: All Snakes over 24 in. in total length must be shipped within a non-crushable wooden crate withstanding a minimum of 100 lbs.

BoidKeeper · 07-15-04, 07:50 PM

We are screwed! Did you talk to West Jet yet?
Jeff, Don, Corey or anybody else that ships on a regular basis, have you guys run into this yet?
Trevor

leoncurrie · 07-15-04, 07:53 PM

Trev,
I phoned West Jet but they asked me to call back tomorrow...I will keep you posted on the info that they provide to me.
Leon

Scales Zoo · 07-15-04, 07:55 PM

You got that from Air Canada?

The table is a little confusing, but any snake over 24'' needs a wooden crate? I'll be selling wooden crates at the Red Deer show.

Ryan

leoncurrie · 07-15-04, 07:59 PM

My wife type it out in word (there was charts) but this site does not support that. Follow the breaks, If anyone would like the typed out copy. let me know and I will email it to you. This is what I received from air canada. They would not accept my reptile for shipment.

NiagaraReptiles · 07-15-04, 08:18 PM

That is a portion of the regulations taken from the IATA guidlines manual. There is a portion following that (I believe) that states the requirements for styrofoam/cardboard shipping containers and rigid containers for smaller reptiles. It's late and I'm not in the mood to reference it exactly right now........maybe tomorrow

The IATA hand book can be ordered through them directly for a cost of $119 US.

It is the shippers responsibility to conform to IATA shipping regulations and it is also the right of the airline to refuse inapropriately packed shipments.

JonK

leoncurrie · 07-15-04, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NiagaraReptiles
That is a portion of the regulations taken from the IATA guidlines manual. There is a portion following that (I believe) that states the requirements for styrofoam/cardboard shipping containers and rigid containers for smaller reptiles. It's late and I'm not in the mood to reference it exactly right now........maybe tomorrow

The IATA hand book can be ordered through them directly for a cost of $119 US.

It is the shippers responsibility to conform to IATA shipping regulations and it is also the right of the airline to refuse inapropriately packed shipments.

JonK

Yes... that is true however, I was told directly (and I quote) " Any snake over 24" that is not confined in a non crushable wood crate will not be shipped!"

Tim_Cranwill · 07-15-04, 08:37 PM

I shipped on AC 3 days ago and they didn't say anything. ???

Sounds like some pretty strict guidelines. It will be a pain if they ARE enforced.

leoncurrie · 07-15-04, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim_Cranwill
I shipped on AC 3 days ago and they didn't say anything. ???

Sounds like some pretty strict guidelines. It will be a pain if they ARE enforced.

Well Tim, My guess is you might have gotten lucky.LOL
When I went to the airport, I was greeted with a big "NO" and given the new guidelines. I called the guy that was supposed to receive the snake and he called the fredericton AC cargo. He was told the same thing. If anyone would like to verify my story, have any questions or protest this..... the number to Air Canada Cargo is: (506) 446-6131

Leon

Jeff_Favelle · 07-16-04, 01:20 AM

I shipped out 31 snakes just fine the other day. I wouldn't even know where to get a wooden crate even if I had too, LOL!!

Rob McRobbie · 07-16-04, 01:31 AM

I'm gonna go to Home Dept and start buying up all the lumber... My company name will be "CRATES R US"

Anyone want to go into business with me.. you'll have to sell off your collection for shares...

Jeff_Favelle · 07-16-04, 02:54 AM

LOL!!

BoAddict · 07-16-04, 03:08 AM

i was thinking the same thing rob lol

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 07-16-04, 03:11 AM

LEONCURRIE:

Wow, this will put a few of us out when it comes to shipping. I myself have not shipped anything this past week so I don' t know what this situation is but will check both airlines tomorrow. Never had a problem before since my methods are somewhat over kill at times on packaging.

Youn mention they result of you going to Air Canada and then being denied. My question is this and please don' t take offense it is simply part 2 to that situation.

What were you shipping and describe the method you used to package them animals in detail, please?

Everything from protecting the animal to securing it in it package and the airlines basic standard rules. Reason I ask is maybe they saw something that was not up to par and then they went to an extreme description of what they want done. Because I once was asked something like this by Air Canada and they started reading the manual to me. Then I said how I have done it for years with fish and boids and parrots and they said it was OK.

Again please don' t take offense as I do not know you and your shipping methods so I simply want part 2 to this situation.

Thank you.

Cya...

Tony

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 07-16-04, 03:18 AM

JEFF:

With 120 plus JPCs and 60 plus BRBs and the rest you got breeding, this situation better not be are hard as it is stated. Or you' ll need to invest in a small lumber yard.

LOL....joking.

Cya...

Tony