CITES, travel and exotics

[WhiteBus]

Hello Ladies,

Apologies if this has been asked before but I couldn't find the info I'm looking for. I'm travelling from the UK to the States for a short break and was hoping to take my touch bag with Mississippi alligator with me. Do I need the Cites certificate and is taking the bag advisable? It would either be used as hand luggage or carried in my cabin bag.

With thanks

A cites certificate is always going to be advisable
Better to be safe than sorry

 

[momoc]

Hello Ladies,

Apologies if this has been asked before but I couldn't find the info I'm looking for. I'm travelling from the UK to the States for a short break and was hoping to take my touch bag with Mississippi alligator with me. Do I need the Cites certificate and is taking the bag advisable? It would either be used as hand luggage or carried in my cabin bag.

With thanks

I would say yes on the CITES. I tend to not travel across countries with exotics just to have one less potential thing to worry about, but it is definitely doable. It’s possible that they don’t check everything at the border - in fact my personal experience is that they don’t bother a lot of the time - but as long as there is a possibility that they do (as they legally can) I would take all the steps I can to be safe.

If you don’t have one / need to get a new CITES, it could take some time and work. If that’s going to be too much hassle, personally I would just take something non-exotic.

 

[fice16]

I would say yes on the CITES. I tend to not travel across countries with exotics just to have one less potential thing to worry about, but it is definitely doable. It’s possible that they don’t check everything at the border - in fact my personal experience is that they don’t bother a lot of the time - but as long as there is a possibility that they do (as they legally can) I would take all the steps I can to be safe.

If you don’t have one / need to get a new CITES, it could take some time and work. If that’s going to be too much hassle, personally I would just take something non-exotic.

Hi Momoc, I have a question. If the boutique didn’t provide a CITES, can we apply one on our own? Thanks in advance for any insight you can share.

 

[momoc]

Hi Momoc, I have a question. If the boutique didn’t provide a CITES, can we apply one on our own? Thanks in advance for any insight you can share.

The short answer is yes. Although the boutique really should have given you one! You can apply for one on your own, and it is my understanding that for certain cases (e.g. for commercial purpose such as re-selling the bag) a new one would be required regardless of the old one from the boutique (as the old one from the boutique does not cover the new purpose). For personal use items traveling with you, often there are exemptions from needing a CITES, but again I always err on the side of caution and probably would have mine (photocopies and all, along with receipts) even if I had checked that both the country I’m going from and going to have exemptions; besides just the CITES requirement it’s also about proof of where I’ve purchased these items & that these are my personal use items.

To get to the original question though; if for whichever reason you are in a case where you need to apply for one, the how depends on the local CITES issuing authority and what their specific rules and procedures are, and may go from fairly straight-forward (fill out some form, know your specific species’ scientific name, etc.) to pretty complicated (not to mention slow because government agencies. I think the USA website says something like “60 days”; although I’ve never done it myself and maybe they work faster in reality lol). Most countries’ department should have a CITES section on their website with information on whether you need one + how to apply for one. When in doubt I would contact the authority and ask for official clarifications on anything unclear.

 

[fice16]

The short answer is yes. Although the boutique really should have given you one! You can apply for one on your own, and it is my understanding that for certain cases (e.g. for commercial purpose such as re-selling the bag) a new one would be required regardless of the old one from the boutique (as the old one from the boutique does not cover the new purpose). For personal use items traveling with you, often there are exemptions from needing a CITES, but again I always err on the side of caution and probably would have mine (photocopies and all, along with receipts) even if I had checked that both the country I’m going from and going to have exemptions; besides just the CITES requirement it’s also about proof of where I’ve purchased these items & that these are my personal use items.

To get to the original question though; if for whichever reason you are in a case where you need to apply for one, the how depends on the local CITES issuing authority and what their specific rules and procedures are, and may go from fairly straight-forward (fill out some form, know your specific species’ scientific name, etc.) to pretty complicated (not to mention slow because government agencies. I think the USA website says something like “60 days”; although I’ve never done it myself and maybe they work faster in reality lol). Most countries’ department should have a CITES section on their website with information on whether you need one + how to apply for one. When in doubt I would contact the authority and ask for official clarifications on anything unclear.

Momoc, thank you so much for your sharing! I truly appreciate it!

 

[QuelleFromage]

Hello Ladies,

Apologies if this has been asked before but I couldn't find the info I'm looking for. I'm travelling from the UK to the States for a short break and was hoping to take my touch bag with Mississippi alligator with me. Do I need the Cites certificate and is taking the bag advisable? It would either be used as hand luggage or carried in my cabin bag.

With thanks

Alligator is Appendix II of CITES so technically it can be brought in and out of the US as personal effects with no issue. However it's always advisable to bring your CITES...no one wants to argue with customs or take a risk on a precious bag.
I have an alligator bag with no CITES (still in application process) and I carry a copy of the US regulations on exotics with me for now. It is very clear, but, again, we never know what bureaucracy will do!

Also, you need to know the UK rules for bringing the bag back in...that I am not certain of...so best to have your CITES since you have one. I would copy it and keep the original in the bag at all times.

 

[momoc]

Alligator is Appendix II of CITES so technically it can be brought in and out of the US as personal effects with no issue. However it's always advisable to bring your CITES...no one wants to argue with customs or take a risk on a precious bag.
I have an alligator bag with no CITES (still in application process) and I carry a copy of the US regulations on exotics with me for now. It is very clear, but, again, we never know what bureaucracy will do!

Also, you need to know the UK rules for bringing the bag back in...that I am not certain of...so best to have your CITES since you have one. I would copy it and keep the original in the bag at all times.

Last I looked at UK (for a trip to London) the policy per their website says “we provide exemptions for CITES for personal items but for specifics of what circumstances will be exempted contact us” and when I tried contacting them the automated email I got back said “please give 15 days for us to get back to you” and I am not sure if they replied in the end. I skipped my exotics lol.

 

[Antonette.Bee]

Hi all, I am hoping to get some advice about purchasing an exotic alligator Hermes bag from a reseller I know in Japan and getting it shipped here in Australia. I am a bit worried as most of the online resell market would always indicate that anything exotic cannot be shipped to Australia. I have read some articles stating that a CITE certificate from both the country of origin and country of destination should be obtained? Worried that it might get confiscated regardless if it has a certificate.

 

[WhiteBus]

Hi all, I am hoping to get some advice about purchasing an exotic alligator Hermes bag from a reseller I know in Japan and getting it shipped here in Australia. I am a bit worried as most of the online resell market would always indicate that anything exotic cannot be shipped to Australia. I have read some articles stating that a CITE certificate from both the country of origin and country of destination should be obtained? Worried that it might get confiscated regardless if it has a certificate.

Perhaps it is worth filling out the acronym
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Regardless of CITES, Australia is very strict on the importation of plant or animal based materials

I would suggest that you contact your authorities and explain what you want to do and get IN WRITING what is required.
To be honest you might decide that all the uncertainty and anxiety is not worth it.
Regardless, whenever you buy a bag made from the skin of an animal covered by CITES, you must ensure that you have a CITES certificate - Do not accept any excuses or statements that you could get one if you need one.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Hi all, I am hoping to get some advice about purchasing an exotic alligator Hermes bag from a reseller I know in Japan and getting it shipped here in Australia. I am a bit worried as most of the online resell market would always indicate that anything exotic cannot be shipped to Australia. I have read some articles stating that a CITE certificate from both the country of origin and country of destination should be obtained? Worried that it might get confiscated regardless if it has a certificate.

Australia is really tough. You need an import certificate. Sad to say might not be worth the risk.

 

[BreezyE]

Wondering if anyone has experience of bringing a full exotic bag to Taiwan from the US? It will be boxed as a gift with the CITES. I couldn't find any information online about this, and if it is even allowed to bring into Taiwan.

 

[Christofle]

Wondering if anyone has experience of bringing a full exotic bag to Taiwan from the US? It will be boxed as a gift with the CITES. I couldn't find any information online about this, and if it is even allowed to bring into Taiwan.

International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs ::: CITES Reg.

You might find this useful.

 

[BreezyE]

International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs ::: CITES Reg.

You might find this useful.

Wow that was exactly what I was looking for, thank you!!

 

[Notorious Pink]

The Ostrich issue is confusing to me. One of my closest friends picked up a B25 recently and remarked to me that there wasn’t a CITES and she has had to keep requesting it - for most people, I would explain, but her collection is huge and she says she has always received CITES from H for her Ostrich bags. Did they used to give CITES regularly and stopped more recently?

 

[Christofle]

The Ostrich issue is confusing to me. One of my closest friends picked up a B25 recently and remarked to me that there wasn’t a CITES and she has had to keep requesting it - for most people, I would explain, but her collection is huge and she says she has always received CITES from H for her Ostrich bags. Did they used to give CITES regularly and stopped more recently?

The law changed regarding ostrich which is why you are seeing a discrepancy versus a few years ago.