[Nhcoll-l] shipment of herbarium specimens to Denmark

Thu Nov 2 13:11:15 EDT 2023

Hi Rich,

there once was an low value tax exemption for all shipments were the declared value was below 22 EUR. But this was completely removed with the entering into force of the new EU tax reg in March this year. This was done to counteract the substantial tax evasion observed in e-commerce business with (Southeast) Asia (basically with one specific country).

Specimens shipped under CN/HS code 9705.29.0000 are exempted from taxes in the EU, and this surely applies also to the UK, as the UK is (at the moment still) tied to via Northern Ireland to the (taxation) requirements of the Single Market of the EU.

But mind you: this tax exemption only applies to the 'goods', i.e. the specimens that are shipped. This is not a derogation from value-added taxes! This means that we have observed in the recent past that 'import taxes' where charged on the shipping costs. In some cases we could successfully claim those costs when mailing FedEx, or UPS (have not observed this with DHL Express so far, more often with UPS) when pointing to the fact that the goods themselves are tax-exempted, and that loanded research samples are not goods for which value-added taxes can be charged. Onerous emails, but sometimes successful.

@ Gretchen: you were lucky with the $45! Better avoiding this an reducing this to $1 for above given reasons.

Hope this further clarifies,

with best wishes
Dirk

Am 02.11.2023 um 17:56 schrieb Richard Rabeler:
Dirk:

Thanks for the additional details.  I remember when shipping specimens was far simpler than it is today.

When I saw Gretchen's note about using a value of $1/specimen, it reminded me of a problem I once had with a shipment to Great Britain.  I also thought $1/specimen was a reasonable value and did so with any international shipments until one was returned in 2018 with a note that all incoming packages with a value over 15 E were assessed duty.   Reducing the value of the package was required to get that shipment to its destination.   I suspect that limit still exists????

Sincerely,

Rich Rabeler, MICH

On Wed, Nov 1, 2023 at 5:04 AM Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de<mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>> wrote:
Just a brief comment the open question in this excellent response:

the 9 digits are required for correct entries of your customs brokers into the electronic EU customs system (which requires the full 9 digits for valid entries). Some EU Member States rarely require to give the full 11 digits, i.e. the correct EU reference to the harmonised code + the additional specific 3 digits that connect to the respective national code /implementation. This may be required if you hand-carry material and have to fill in a proper customs declaration upon arrival at the gateway. But as said, usually this is not required for normal (postal) shipments.

To avoid import taxes, it is advisable to term the included material either as preserved botanic museum material (herbarium sheets) - or preserved zoological museum material (+ description which kind of material), respectively.

It is definitely worth following Gretchen recommendation to highlight the return, but it is better say return of loaned scientific museum material + statement for which type of research the material was on loan. A return (of goods) usually requires reference to the original customs export documentation, which in our case is usually not issued (as we don't ship commercial goods or product samples).

Hope this further supports.
With best wishes
Dirk

Am 31.10.2023 um 20:53 schrieb Meier, Gretchen:
MU uses eshipglobal.com<http://eshipglobal.com> and the website will walk you through the process with links to get the correct codes.  The harmonized Code I use is 9705.29.0000, for some reason you have to use the full 9 digits, this is the code for natural history collections of various types.  The ECCN code I use is EAR99 - which is 'other'.  Even though Herbarium specimens are technically 'goods' they have no commercial value.  I always add at least $1 per specimen so if they get lost, I can at least recoup the postage.  You'll need to print 2 copies of the address form and three copies of the commercial invoice that go in a clear mailing pouch on the outside.  Keep a copy for yourself.  I always use FedEx Priority International, if that helps at all.  Lastly, because I'm mostly returning loaned materials, I always put 'return to origin' in one of the first steps of the process.
Gretchen

On Tue, Oct 31, 2023 at 2:00 PM Tim Flynn <tflynn at ntbg.org<mailto:tflynn at ntbg.org>> wrote:
Can anyone advise me on what I will need to include/provide when shipping herbarium specimens to Denmark? I know that I will include a customs declaration and have requested the EORI of the receiving museum (C). Is anything else needed? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tim
Tim Flynn | Husband, Father, Curator of the Herbarium | National Tropical Botanical Garden | 3530 Papalina Road | Kalaheo, HI, 96741 | 808-332-7324 x 205 | fax: 808-332-9765
tflynn at ntbg.org<mailto:tflynn at ntbg.org>
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_______________________________________________
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.

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Dirk Neumann
Collection Manager, Hamburg

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Leibniz Institute for the Analysis
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--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst
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_______________________________________________
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.

--
****

Dirk Neumann
Collection Manager, Hamburg

Postal address:
Museum of Nature Hamburg
Leibniz Institute for the Analysis
of Biodiversity Change
Dirk Neumann
Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3
20146 Hamburg
+49 40 238 317 – 628
d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de<mailto:d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de>
www.leibniz-lib.de<imap://dneumann@webmail.leibniz-lib.de:993/fetch%3EUID%3E/INBOX/Privat/www.leibniz-lib.de>

--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst

--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst
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