OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Thanks for following, I'll make a check list, after I know the protocol for importing corals for personal use.
IMPORT 101
- Thread starter Dr. Dendrostein
- Start date
- Tagged users None
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Called Customs Border Protection(CBP), back east, spoke to someone there, gave me ph# of import specialist(CBP) in Socal. By Los Angeles. Going to call
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
The person to talk to from Custom Border Protection is a supervisory import specialist they're the ones that will answer or provide information to clear customs and have no issues. I left information for the supervisor through his email address, now it's a waiting game for them to get back to me.
On a different note I just got an email from the exporter of corals,he gave me a list of documents they provide with their corals to Europe, which looks like the same for the US.
Here's the list
Please find below list of documents.
1. Journey declaration
2. Health certificate
3. Export permit
4. certificate of origin
5. Airway bill
Kindly find attached a picture.
Looks like these documents and the only one missing is a list the species that will be shipped but pretty much what's needed to import into the US. They also sent me a photo of their corals.
On a different note I just got an email from the exporter of corals,he gave me a list of documents they provide with their corals to Europe, which looks like the same for the US.
Here's the list
Please find below list of documents.
1. Journey declaration
2. Health certificate
3. Export permit
4. certificate of origin
5. Airway bill
Kindly find attached a picture.
Looks like these documents and the only one missing is a list the species that will be shipped but pretty much what's needed to import into the US. They also sent me a photo of their corals.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Just spoke to Fish&Wildlife Service, if not on CITES, they need no documentation. They did ask 20 questions, weather species in one in the appendix for endangered species, is coral similar to pipe organ coral, trick question. At first they mentioned but I would need a license to import these corals and I made him aware I'm a hobbyist and it's for personal use and he mentioned no license needed in that case. Get familiar with type of corals you plan to import,know their proper Latin names, etc. Do your homework.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Now calling California Fish&Wildlife, see if I need any permits
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Got transferred to a field agent to ask my question, weather I need a permit from California Fish&Wildlife. Left a message, waiting game now.
And Fed's fish&wildlife keep calling person not picking up. Keep trying, call later.
And Fed's fish&wildlife keep calling person not picking up. Keep trying, call later.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
On the customs border Protection website there's a hyper link that says basic importing andexporting information.
My shipment will the imported as informal entry. This is basically like a FasTrak to importing good but you need to qualify.
The charts below show what's needed to qualify and if a customs officer is not too busy they're supposed to fill out all customs forms if no officer is available then there's a customs cashier they for a small fee will help you fill out your paperwork.
My shipment will the imported as informal entry. This is basically like a FasTrak to importing good but you need to qualify.
The charts below show what's needed to qualify and if a customs officer is not too busy they're supposed to fill out all customs forms if no officer is available then there's a customs cashier they for a small fee will help you fill out your paperwork.
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Recap, we know now that federal fish and Wildlife will not ask for paperwork, if it's not under the CITES treaty. Fish and Wildlife will determine that there's no live Rock,coral gravel, or sand with the specimen.
Have shipment inspected first before dealing with customs.
If shipment is under $2,500 and for personal use then one can qualify for informal entry.
We're getting closer to shipping some corals.
Have shipment inspected first before dealing with customs.
If shipment is under $2,500 and for personal use then one can qualify for informal entry.
We're getting closer to shipping some corals.
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
So, reading on the CBP website about basic importing and exporting, They say first thing to do is go to customs where shipment coming in(you will get info from carrier that says when shipment will arrive first), let someone know you have, "informal entry to process and pick up." Those exact word, they say to use.
Also the HTC duty code the most important got to get the right code down, customs will help, but plan ahead. All information you need do before ordering anything, know your latin, and your corals.
Again to qualify for informal entry(like fast track):
1. Personal use
2. Under $2500
3. No bond
4. Customs officer will help with paperwork if not busy, if busy customs cashier for fee if available will help.
5. Customs officer will determine HTCUS classification
Also the HTC duty code the most important got to get the right code down, customs will help, but plan ahead. All information you need do before ordering anything, know your latin, and your corals.
Again to qualify for informal entry(like fast track):
1. Personal use
2. Under $2500
3. No bond
4. Customs officer will help with paperwork if not busy, if busy customs cashier for fee if available will help.
5. Customs officer will determine HTCUS classification
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Just got email from US. Fish and Wildlife, key to email is more than 8 corals my be considered commercial use. Also inspection fee $93
,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of live soft corals will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
If you are not importing these live soft corals for commercial purposes, consistent with our definition of commercial, you do not have to apply for an import/export license. However, please be advised that a portion of this definition reads:
"There is a presumption that eight or more similar unused items are for commercial use. The Service or the importer/exporter/owner may rebut this presumption based upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case”
You can view our complete definition of commercial at the following website: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...426fa7b013&mc=true&node=se50.1.14_14&rgn=div8
Soft corals are generally speaking, not protected species however, as you prepare to import these live soft corals into the United States, you must complete Form 3-177, Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife. You can find this form on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/3177_1.pdf This form is not difficult to complete, although you must provide the scientific name for each species of soft coral that you wish to import.
We do allow the filing of Form 3-177 on-line using our eDecs system. You can view information on our eDecs system on our website at:https://edecs.fws.gov/.
If you have additional questions regarding the use of our eDecs system, we suggest that you contact our wildlife inspectors at the port where you will be importing these live soft corals for assistance. You can find contact information for our wildlife inspectors on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/designated-ports.html
Regarding the completion of Form 3-177:
Since you are not importing these live soft corals for commercial purposes, you do not have to apply for an import/export license and can leave Block # 2of Form 3-177 blank.
Since you are not importing these live soft corals for commercial purposes, there should not be any U.S. Customs and Border Protection document reference number for Block # 6 of Form 3-177.
Enter the name of the carrier in Block # 7 of Form 3-177.
The Air Waybill or Bill of Lading number in Block # 8 of Form 3-177 will be provided by the carrier and would only apply to cargo shipments.
Enter Transportation Code "A" for "Air cargo" or "P" for "Personal accompanying baggage" in Block # 9 of Form 3-177.
The bonded location for inspection in Block # 10 of Form 3-177 is the carrier's cargo or passenger terminal.
Marking on Cartons Containing Wildlife in Block # 12 of Form 3-177 typically would include your name and address and the contents and would only apply to cargo shipments.
Since you are not for commercial purposes, you can leave Block # 13b and # 14c of Form 3-177 blank.
You are the "U.S. Importer" in Block # 13a of Form 3-177.
Your foreign supplier is the "Foreign Exporter" in Block # 14a of Form 3-177.
Since you are not importing a species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), you can leave Block # 17aand # 17b of Form 3-177 blank.
Enter Description Code "LIV" in Block # 18a of Form 3-177.
Enter Source Code "W" in Block # 18b of Form 3-177.
You can find instructions for the completion of Form 3-177 on our website at:http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/3177-instructions.pdf
Please have Form 3-177 completed and have it, and these live soft corals available for inspection as you prepare to import them into the United States.
You must import these live soft corals at a designated port. You can find a list of designated ports, and contact information for our wildlife inspectors at those ports, on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/designated-ports.html Since these are live commodities, we require that you contact 48 hours in advance our wildlife inspectors at the port where you will be importing these live soft corals in order to coordinate their clearance into the United States.
You may have to pay an inspection fee depending on the mode of transport. If you import these live soft corals as accompanying personal baggage, no inspection fee will apply. However, if you import these live soft corals via air cargo, an inspection fee of $93 will apply. For information on inspection fees and how to calculate the inspection fee that you may be required to pay, please visit our website at: http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/FeeCalculationChart.pdf
We also suggest that you contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, for information on requirements or restrictions, that may apply to the importation of these live soft corals at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/contact_us
Thank you for your cooperation in complying with our regulations that help protect fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. Please feel free to respond to this message with any further inquiries that you may have regarding this matter.
,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of live soft corals will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
If you are not importing these live soft corals for commercial purposes, consistent with our definition of commercial, you do not have to apply for an import/export license. However, please be advised that a portion of this definition reads:
"There is a presumption that eight or more similar unused items are for commercial use. The Service or the importer/exporter/owner may rebut this presumption based upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case”
You can view our complete definition of commercial at the following website: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...426fa7b013&mc=true&node=se50.1.14_14&rgn=div8
Soft corals are generally speaking, not protected species however, as you prepare to import these live soft corals into the United States, you must complete Form 3-177, Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife. You can find this form on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/3177_1.pdf This form is not difficult to complete, although you must provide the scientific name for each species of soft coral that you wish to import.
We do allow the filing of Form 3-177 on-line using our eDecs system. You can view information on our eDecs system on our website at:https://edecs.fws.gov/.
If you have additional questions regarding the use of our eDecs system, we suggest that you contact our wildlife inspectors at the port where you will be importing these live soft corals for assistance. You can find contact information for our wildlife inspectors on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/designated-ports.html
Regarding the completion of Form 3-177:
Since you are not importing these live soft corals for commercial purposes, you do not have to apply for an import/export license and can leave Block # 2of Form 3-177 blank.
Since you are not importing these live soft corals for commercial purposes, there should not be any U.S. Customs and Border Protection document reference number for Block # 6 of Form 3-177.
Enter the name of the carrier in Block # 7 of Form 3-177.
The Air Waybill or Bill of Lading number in Block # 8 of Form 3-177 will be provided by the carrier and would only apply to cargo shipments.
Enter Transportation Code "A" for "Air cargo" or "P" for "Personal accompanying baggage" in Block # 9 of Form 3-177.
The bonded location for inspection in Block # 10 of Form 3-177 is the carrier's cargo or passenger terminal.
Marking on Cartons Containing Wildlife in Block # 12 of Form 3-177 typically would include your name and address and the contents and would only apply to cargo shipments.
Since you are not for commercial purposes, you can leave Block # 13b and # 14c of Form 3-177 blank.
You are the "U.S. Importer" in Block # 13a of Form 3-177.
Your foreign supplier is the "Foreign Exporter" in Block # 14a of Form 3-177.
Since you are not importing a species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), you can leave Block # 17aand # 17b of Form 3-177 blank.
Enter Description Code "LIV" in Block # 18a of Form 3-177.
Enter Source Code "W" in Block # 18b of Form 3-177.
You can find instructions for the completion of Form 3-177 on our website at:http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/3177-instructions.pdf
Please have Form 3-177 completed and have it, and these live soft corals available for inspection as you prepare to import them into the United States.
You must import these live soft corals at a designated port. You can find a list of designated ports, and contact information for our wildlife inspectors at those ports, on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/designated-ports.html Since these are live commodities, we require that you contact 48 hours in advance our wildlife inspectors at the port where you will be importing these live soft corals in order to coordinate their clearance into the United States.
You may have to pay an inspection fee depending on the mode of transport. If you import these live soft corals as accompanying personal baggage, no inspection fee will apply. However, if you import these live soft corals via air cargo, an inspection fee of $93 will apply. For information on inspection fees and how to calculate the inspection fee that you may be required to pay, please visit our website at: http://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/FeeCalculationChart.pdf
We also suggest that you contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, for information on requirements or restrictions, that may apply to the importation of these live soft corals at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/contact_us
Thank you for your cooperation in complying with our regulations that help protect fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. Please feel free to respond to this message with any further inquiries that you may have regarding this matter.
Last edited:
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Just spoke to US agriculture and animal no permits needed from them.
Trying to see if my shipment aqualifies for sec. 321. By Customs Border Protection. Getting closer to pulling the trigger
Trying to see if my shipment aqualifies for sec. 321. By Customs Border Protection. Getting closer to pulling the trigger
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Next week, I'll go ahead order 6 dendronephthya colonies, why 6? Anything over 8 considered possibly commercial. That means I would need to obtain importers license. Not yet.
Protocol :
1. Locate overseas vendor willing to work with you. If scleractinia (stony corals) they need to be part of CITES treaty.
2. Let them know, what you plan to do. If they can work with small quantities?
3. If they say yes, get forms US Customs Border Protection Form 3-177, and Form 3461, filled and ready.
FORGOT HTCUS CODE 0505.00.0000/free VERY,VERY IMPORTANT.
4. Order corals, should only pay for corals and air carrier paid when goods clear customs.
5. Inform customs 48 hours BEFORE, thru email that live coral shipment expected on such day, they will ask for info on waybill (air carrier invoice).Better if airbill added to first email you send in 48hrs.
5. Carrier should call or email goods have arrived, go there have ready forms 3-177 & 3461.
6. Go to US Customs first, before air carrier, let someone there know "I have informal entry to process and pick up."
7. Follow their directions.
At this point Customs will assist you, and hopefully your exporter filled&sent all necessary documents.
Im ready to import some corals, just gotta hook up 46 gal. bow front to existing DT, easy to do, this Sun.
Protocol :
1. Locate overseas vendor willing to work with you. If scleractinia (stony corals) they need to be part of CITES treaty.
2. Let them know, what you plan to do. If they can work with small quantities?
3. If they say yes, get forms US Customs Border Protection Form 3-177, and Form 3461, filled and ready.
FORGOT HTCUS CODE 0505.00.0000/free VERY,VERY IMPORTANT.
4. Order corals, should only pay for corals and air carrier paid when goods clear customs.
5. Inform customs 48 hours BEFORE, thru email that live coral shipment expected on such day, they will ask for info on waybill (air carrier invoice).Better if airbill added to first email you send in 48hrs.
5. Carrier should call or email goods have arrived, go there have ready forms 3-177 & 3461.
6. Go to US Customs first, before air carrier, let someone there know "I have informal entry to process and pick up."
7. Follow their directions.
At this point Customs will assist you, and hopefully your exporter filled&sent all necessary documents.
Im ready to import some corals, just gotta hook up 46 gal. bow front to existing DT, easy to do, this Sun.
Last edited:
@Jomama we owe you a few cases of beer for all of your work at this. This is very promising and, if successful will make me turn one of my tanks into an nps tank lol. The wifey is even onboard as the only thing better than zoas to her is dendros lol.
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Only thing that would pull the rug under me is if exporter does not follow thru. Now, there's no turning back.
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
WOW!! You have a wife that also enjoys your interest in the children of the sea. Very blessed
Hopefully they will not do that. If all goes well, they can expect at least me placing an order lol.Only thing that would pull the rug under me is if exporter does not follow thru. Now, there's no turning back.
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Kenya dendronephthya colonies, possibly dendronephthya roxasia spp.?
This recently sent 2 days ago, vendors inventory
This recently sent 2 days ago, vendors inventory
Yup, she loves zoas/palys and really loves nps corals. She is also getting into those “pretty stick things”. Lol
OP
OP
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
Kinda what I mentioned to them , if all goes to plan, I'm helping them open new US Market.
Eventually I'll let all know who vendor is.
