Welcome to the arbitrary world of the US Fish & Game Department. Not only
can they stop and inspect such packages, they then charge the person
receiving the package an "inspection" fee (usually between $25 to $55, but
it can be more and is imposed even if the package is confiscated or lost).
This is an interesting fee as these agents are government employees paid for
this service, working in government facilities built for this purpose... I
am sure they are over-worked and under-paid, but they are also funded for
the very thing for which they then charge extra. Proper and complete
customs forms do not prevent any of this action.
-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Topseashells Info
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CONCH-L] Problem with parcel
Dear Conchlers ,
One of my parcel sent from Philippines to a collector in US ran into
trouble with the US Fisheries and Wildlife Department , .1633 Bayshore
HWY, STE 248, Burlingame, CA 94010 . Despite having the complete
documents (fisheries permit, list of shells , value , ...) for the
package, it was withheld by the authorities. Their reason for this was
apparently there were too many shells in the parcel (there were 38
different shells) leading them to think that the client is a merchant.
They further stated that the maximum shells that one can have in a
parcel is 7.
We were directed to Title 50, Part 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), which has guidelines on "Wildlife and Fisheries : Importation,
Exportation, and Transportation of Wildlife". There is absolutely
nothing here that mentions this limit, and as far as we know we have
abided by these laws as none of the shells on the package were
endangered, and we had documentation for the shells in the package.
Does anyone have any information on laws or regulations that has to do
with this 7 shell limit? Does anyone have any similar experience with
the Fish & Wildlife Service? Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
Jean-Pierre
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