CITES, travel and exotics

[Anthropolo]

Looking back at my pre-Covid travel, the customs officers of Australia, USA, Germany and UK stopped me to ask if I have CITES for my former fendi Lizzie peekaboo bag, my carry on bag (no way am I squashing it with the cabin luggage) .

Once, I forgot that I misplaced the paper inside my checked in luggage instead of the bag itself. Customs in Australia told me I can’t leave with it until I find the paper or a receipt from the boutique so they can call up. Fortunately, I found the paper and received a long lecture on always carrying my CITEs cert.

SO YES, they can take ‘personal luggage’ away without CITES.

They simply don‘t know better or have additional laws in Australia that no other country in the world has. However it DOES make a difference if you are trying to get brand new just purchased bag across the border. As for bags in use, you can pass everywhere (except Australia apparently?). I was refused CITES documentation by Louis Vuitton for a wallet I purchased in my own country, after their legal team double and triple checked that personal items in use do not require CITES for travel. They will only issue CITES to foreigners that have to permanently export brand new goods to their own country. So not sure who is correct here: Is it the legal team of the worlds most renowned luxury leather goods manufracturer who exports exotic bags on a daily basis, or is it a couple of border control workers who follow protocol that is extensively complicated in a legal sense and has often caused conflict that required a court to be resolved. They are trying to do their job, but they aren‘t the law. Maybe they just don‘t know better.

 

[redwings]

They simply don‘t know better or have additional laws in Australia that no other country in the world has. However it DOES make a difference if you are trying to get brand new just purchased bag across the border. As for bags in use, you can pass everywhere (except Australia apparently?). I was refused CITES documentation by Louis Vuitton for a wallet I purchased in my own country, after their legal team double and triple checked that personal items in use do not require CITES for travel. They will only issue CITES to foreigners that have to permanently export brand new goods to their own country. So not sure who is correct here: Is it the legal team of the worlds most renowned luxury leather goods manufracturer who exports exotic bags on a daily basis, or is it a couple of border control workers who follow protocol that is extensively complicated in a legal sense and has often caused conflict that required a court to be resolved. They are trying to do their job, but they aren‘t the law. Maybe they just don‘t know better.

Given that pre-covid , work sent me hopping between North America, EU, UK, China, Japan and Australia, there must be quite a lot of ’inexperienced’ custom officers checking.

The US CBP will just confiscate it at the border without CITES.

The stores in Singapore, HKSAR, and Australia where I resided in and bought as a resident, or as a citizen in Australia - all issued CITES certification when I mentioned to them that the bags will be taken out because I move around aka travel for work. Those bags are Fendi and Gucci. Both brands under or have a huge share owned by LVMH.

I am talking visible bags - one you carry around really visible to the custom officials.

A wallet isn’t that visible. Hey, if you want to risk losing your wallet once an officer spots it and pulls you up, your perogative.

Let me go ask LVMH in Australia tomorrow about buying their croc skin bag capuccine and ask if I need cites to travel into EU or USA, after all the legal team of a ‘world renowned’ brand would have advised the branches to let SAs know, right?

 

[redwings]

Back from LV in Melbourne.
The SA advised me to CARRY the CITES issued when going out of the country for travel, should I choose to order and purchase their alligator leather bag.

No need a legal team. That’s a senior SA who came out to give me advice when I asked about their alligator bag on the website.

 

[WhiteBus]

Back from LV in Melbourne.
The SA advised me to CARRY the CITES issued when going out of the country for travel, should I choose to order and purchase their alligator leather bag.

No need a legal team. That’s a senior SA who came out to give me advice when I asked about their alligator bag on the website.

There it is; plain enough!
CITES implementation is far reaching and the regulations are complicated.
There is no point in trying to fathom out if you need CITES documentation or not,
just assume that you do; assume that you have to have it with you if you travel; do not buy anything in an exotic skin without a CITES certificate.
Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[heifer]

When I bought my C18 in alligator, my SA said to better take a picture of the receipt and the cites and save it in my phone in case I travel outside of the EU. Better to be safe for sure!

 

[fice16]

When I bought my C18 in alligator, my SA said to better take a picture of the receipt and the cites and save it in my phone in case I travel outside of the EU. Better to be safe for sure!

I did the same thing too.
Also, I made a scan copy of the receipt and CITES and kept in my emails, so I can make copies of these documents as needed (if overseas or document loss)..

 

[Anthropolo]

US CBP in SF …saw them cut a watch strap (think it was croc or ally) …the owner was very upset and caused a commotion. I was behind queuing for screening. Apparently CBP thought the watch fake as well and the owner alleged it’s real. They let the man pass with his Watch minus strap.

Then they looked at my bag on my shoulder and before they can say anything, I handed them the cites documentation.

Given that pre-covid , work sent me hopping between North America, EU, UK, China, Japan and Australia, there must be quite a lot of ’inexperienced’ custom officers checking.

The US CBP will just confiscate it at the border without CITES.

The stores in Singapore, HKSAR, and Australia where I resided in and bought as a resident, or as a citizen in Australia - all issued CITES certification when I mentioned to them that the bags will be taken out because I move around aka travel for work. Those bags are Fendi and Gucci. Both brands under or have a huge share owned by LVMH.

I am talking visible bags - one you carry around really visible to the custom officials.

A wallet isn’t that visible. Hey, if you want to risk losing your wallet once an officer spots it and pulls you up, your perogative.

Let me go ask LVMH in Australia tomorrow about buying their croc skin bag capuccine and ask if I need cites to travel into EU or USA, after all the legal team of a ‘world renowned’ brand would have advised the branches to let SAs know, right?

Honestly the more I read on it the more I think they owe me that stupid CITES. Australia does in fact have ridiculously strict laws while most other countries don‘t bat an eye. As far as I can see, Australia would not hesitate ceasing my legally purchased wallet.

 

[QuelleFromage]

I did the same thing too.
Also, I made a scan copy of the receipt and CITES and kept in my emails, so I can make copies of these documents as needed (if overseas or document loss)..

This is what I do as well. I have a file on my phone with scans of all my receipts and CITES, so I don't have to think too much about which bag I am carrying across which border. Since I usually will have an Hermes bag on me, often in its dustbag, I expect at some point I'll be stopped by customs somewhere.

 

[missmarchetti]

Hello everyone,

I would highly appreciate any info on CITES certificates and traveling with a Chanel Galuchat (stingray) bag.

I never traveled with mine but might take it to Asia with me in the future.
Since I don‘t have a CITES certificate for my bag I am feeling a bit uneasy.

I popped into Chanel and my SA said they issue CITES certificates for croc/alligator bags but not stingray.
Either way since the purchase was made years ago they wouldn‘t be able to reprint the certificate even if there had been one included with the purchase.

Hence my question - has anyone received a CITES certificate for their stingray bag at purchase?

Any experiences on traveling with stingray in general?

Thank you for your help!

 

[redwings]

Hello everyone,

I would highly appreciate any info on CITES certificates and traveling with a Chanel Galuchat (stingray) bag.

I never traveled with mine but might take it to Asia with me in the future.
Since I don‘t have a CITES certificate for my bag I am feeling a bit uneasy.

I popped into Chanel and my SA said they issue CITES certificates for croc/alligator bags but not stingray.
Either way since the purchase was made years ago they wouldn‘t be able to reprint the certificate even if there had been one included with the purchase.

Hence my question - has anyone received a CITES certificate for their stingray bag at purchase?

Any experiences on traveling with stingray in general?

Thank you for your help!

Galuchat doesn‘t need cites . The leather is a byproduct of a stingray destined for the bbq . I travelled with my Bvlgari Galuchat handbag internationally 3 times - no trouble from Japan, Hong Kong or Indonesia.

 

[denwicmar]

Hi,
I recently took an older vintage crocodile Kelly purchased online to Paris to go to the Spa and have straps, etc replaced, after Hermes in NYC told me it couldn’t be done locally, as they couldn’t not obtain CITES to ship it to Paris. The SA in the spa recommended I take it there myself(I bought it 2nd hand with no CITES). I took it there a couple of months ago and they are repairing it. My question is will I not be able to bring it back to the US once the repairs are done?; Is there anything I can do now to mitigate that or can Hermes in France verify that it is possibly before CITES were require?
I really concerned I may not be able to bring my bag back with me

 

[redwings]

Hi,
I recently took an older vintage crocodile Kelly purchased online to Paris to go to the Spa and have straps, etc replaced, after Hermes in NYC told me it couldn’t be done locally, as they couldn’t not obtain CITES to ship it to Paris. The SA in the spa recommended I take it there myself(I bought it 2nd hand with no CITES). I took it there a couple of months ago and they are repairing it. My question is will I not be able to bring it back to the US once the repairs are done?; Is there anything I can do now to mitigate that or can Hermes in France verify that it is possibly before CITES were require?
I really concerned I may not be able to bring my bag back with me

You have to ask 1: the government department relevant to importing back your bag (yes, that includes hand carry) for the documentation required for a possibly vintage bag pre-CITES. Get everything in writing.

Then if they require documentation from Hermes , then 2. it is up to Hermes if they can assist in providing necessary documentation. They may be able to date the production (note : only date it) Hit and miss with this one.

Thats why I don’t buy exotics now except for ostrich (faux exotic) - too much headache for me when Australia is one of the strictest on CITES.

 

[OuiCestLaVie]

I wonder if the customs will be able to tell if a particular CITES goes with a particular gator/croc bag? I’m asking this because I noticed that even the boutique would sometimes give out wrong CITES for a bag purchased. For example, I received an alligator CITES for a nilo croc bag, and a Nilo croc CITES for a poro croc bag.

 

[waterlily112]

I wonder if the customs will be able to tell if a particular CITES goes with a particular gator/croc bag? I’m asking this because I noticed that even the boutique would sometimes give out wrong CITES for a bag purchased. For example, I received an alligator CITES for a nilo croc bag, and a Nilo croc CITES for a poro croc bag.

I don't see how that can be an issue since both are still croc? If custom wants to go down the rabbit hole of differentiating origins and techniques of the exotics bags and for every luxury brand out there, people will end up spending days at custom waiting on the clearance.

 

[denwicmar]

You have to ask 1: the government department relevant to importing back your bag (yes, that includes hand carry) for the documentation required for a possibly vintage bag pre-CITES. Get everything in writing.

Then if they require documentation from Hermes , then 2. it is up to Hermes if they can assist in providing necessary documentation. They may be able to date the production (note : only date it) Hit and miss with this one.

Thats why I don’t buy exotics now except for ostrich (faux exotic) - too much headache for me when Australia is one of the strictest on CITES.

Thank you, I will look into this. Does anyone know the agency you contact in the USA?