[NHCOLL-L:4657] RE: DHL again

[Bentley, Andrew Charles]

Greg

 

As Ellen has outlined, I am not sure there is any way around this.  As far as I can tell the procedure is as follows.  The package arrives in the country and goes to a holding area while paperwork is completed (for those that need it).  All wildlife packages (that are flagged as such - some make it through because they are not identified as such) require that paperwork gets completed.  Here lies the rub.  The paperwork needs to be submitted to a different location and is done electronically so even if there is a 3-177 with the package they need to redo this electronically.  Any package that is then flagged will get inspected (my feeling is that very few ever do get physically inspected or opened).

 

So, it appears for now that we have no recourse but we can smooth the process some.  I have gotten in the habit of providing 3-177's for everything international and sending a copy to senders of incoming material for inclusion in the shipping pouch.  At least then DHL, FedEx or UPS do not have to go looking for the necessary information when they electronically file and we can be fairly sure that the electronically filed version will match our version.  E-decs is a good idea (although I have had nothing but heartache with this system and so still file manually by pdf every 180 days) but should never be a substitute for a paper copy in the shipping pouch for this reason.

 

Ellen mentioned sending the materials by regular mail.  Unfortunately, as yet, this is not an option for anything containing dangerous goods as we well know.  This may change in the near future but until then we will have to continue with the procedures in place and make do as much as possible.

 

I am hoping that after the dangerous goods and country specific issues have been resolved (SPNHC is at present beginning to tackle - or at least starting to collate all known information on - the latter) that this will be our next big issue to take on.  Ellen has begun to tackle this and maybe we can take it further and attempt to resolve these issues.

 

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager/Specify Usability Lead
University of Kansas
Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7593
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335
Email: ABentley at ku.edu       
                                                
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________________________________

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Watkins-Colwell, Gregory
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 10:22 AM
To: nhcoll-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4655] DHL again

 

A while ago we had some discussion about DHL and USFWs (Sorry for the non-US folks.. this may not be too interesting).

 

Right now, this very second, I have an incoming package coming to U.S. from Italy.  DHL is holding it until US Fish and Wildlife can clear it.  The package contains tissue samples of a non-CITES lizard species.  DHL wants me to tell them all the answers to all the spots on the 3-177 so they can do the clearance.  Yet, I can do the clearance for FREE and I have 180 days to do it.  DHL will charge us a fee for doing the 3-177 for me and says they have to do it before delivering it.

 

Is there a way to get DHL to STOP doing this?  I've written them, called them, faxed them and e-mailed them.  But nobody that I talk to there seems to know the answer and none of them seems to have any clue about wildlife or the forms (i.e. the package says right on it all the information they need... even the shipping invoice that they faxed me has all the answers!)

 

Any suggestions?

 

Greg

 

 

--------------------------------------

Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell

Division of Vertebrate Zoology

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

170 Whitney Avenue, Box 208118

New Haven, CT  06520

203/432-3791  or    fax: 203/432-2874

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