[Nhcoll-l] Importing ethnographic collections - Migratory bird issues

[Nutter, Pat]

When as the material collected, and who currently holds the collection?  Are you importing for an exhibit (and planning to re-export), or are you acquiring the collection?

For each of the objects involved you will need to know the species involved, when the object was collected, and when it last changed hands.    (When the object was last "in commerce" can make a difference when it comes to permit requirements.) This will allow you to check whether each species is listed under CITES, Endangered Species Act, or Migratory Bird Act and what kind of permit is needed.  Lists of covered species are available through the US fish & Wildlife Service website(s) and the links Ellen provided below.

  Explore the USFW and USDA APHIS websites.  They can be mind-boggling, but they will at least give you an idea of what questions you need to get answered.

  You probably want to find a good customs broker who has experience dealing with importing wildlife or fine arts that contain wildlife parts.  (Masterpiece International one firm, and   I'm sure there are more in the New York area.)  Having an experienced customs broker is no substitute for being familiar with the regulations yourself, but it can certainly help.  Bring them into the process early - they may have valuable information about what is a realistic timeline.

   The permit review process with US Fish & Wildlife  and USDA APHIS can take months, so leave yourself plenty of time between the time you apply for a permit and the time when you need the collection to travel.  If you are planning to import and then re-export the collection, consider the permit application and review process when you are making your plans.  If you need to import and then apply for re-export permits, you don't want to be stuck with a schedule that calls for you to export the collection before you have the permits ready.

  You will also need to check to see if the exporting country has export regulations that affect what you are planning to do.   (CITES Appendix I listed species require both an export permit from the exporting country and an import permit from U.S..  there may be additional permitting requirements, depending on what you are exporting and from where.)  The current holder of the collection know or be able to give you knowledgeable contacts, and a customs broker may have contacts in the exporting country.

Patricia Nutter
Associate Registrar, National Museum of Natural History


From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Ellen Paul
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 1:36 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: smonson at coleccioncisneros.org
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Importing ethnographic collections - Migratory bird issues

What species?

If they are on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act list (http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/regulationspolicies/mbta/mbtandx.html) then you need this permit:  http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-6.pdf

If they are protected under the Endangered Species Act (http://www.fws.gov/endangered/)* then this permit: http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-37.pdf
* Be sure to check both U.S. and foreign listings.

If they are protected under CITES (http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html) then again http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-37.pdf unless they are going between CITES registered scientific institutions, in which case no permit is needed but there is paperwork.

There is another form (not a permit) called a 3-177. This is a declaration form and you always, always, always have to use it for every wildlife import even if no permit is required.

Depending on what you are importing, there are also restrictions on what ports and what days of the week (M-F, no federal holidays) and times (regular business hours).

And a host of other procedures.

That's all for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the importer must have:

1) A VS16-3 permit
2) A certificate of origin or certificate of treatment, depending on the country of origin and the status of the recipient (this latter would not apply to a display collection; it pertains only to research labs)
3) A pro forma permit

And again, lots of additional procedures.

Suggest you contact me off-list.

Ellen



Ellen Paul

Executive Director

The Ornithological Council

Email: ellen.paul at verizon.net<mailto:ellen.paul at verizon.net>

Phone (301) 986 8568

"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"<http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET>

http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET"<http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET>
On 8/27/13 12:19 PM, Skye Monson wrote:
Dear Listservers,

We are researching the possibility of permanently importing a collection of ethnographic objects from South America which includes feathers of migratory birds, among other materials from endangered species. Apparently the US fish and wildlife service has a lot of restrictions about importing this kind of stuff, especially migratory birds. Does anyone have experience in even attempting to get the permits to bring material like this into the US, or know of any precedent for it?

I appreciate any insights you may have!

Best,

Skye A. Monson
Registrar
Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros
2 East 78th Street
NYC 10075
T 212.717.6080
www.coleccioncisneros.org<http://www.coleccioncisneros.org/>
www.lainvenciónconcreta<http://www.lainvencionconcreta.org/>.org
www.orinoco.org<http://www.orinoco.org/>
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