CITES, travel and exotics

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#526
vrh27 said:
Question for anyone who has ever traveled with an exotic from Brazil to the U.S.--did this require a CITES? It's an alligator bag I am interested in purchasing secondhand and bringing back to the U.S., but it does not have a CITES. Based on what I have read about the laws (under chapter 4, exception III, here: https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/bra112515.pdf), CITES is not required for personal items. For my peace of mind, I wondered if anyone can confirm CITES is not needed for this. Thank you so much.
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Do not risk it, the bag can be confiscated. You need existing CITES to enter the U.S.
As for Brazil, I have emailed them before, and they told me to get in and out of the country you need CITES and the invoice. You do not need to reapply for a new CITES because they accept personal exemption, but you need the CITES.
 
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#527
Angiebbb said:
Do not risk it, the bag can be confiscated. You need existing CITES to enter the U.S.
As for Brazil, I have emailed them before, and they told me to get in and out of the country you need CITES and the invoice. You do not need to reapply for a new CITES because they accept personal exemption, but you need the CITES.
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Thank you so much!
 
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#528
vrh27 said:
Question for anyone who has ever traveled with an exotic from Brazil to the U.S.--did this require a CITES? It's an alligator bag I am interested in purchasing secondhand and bringing back to the U.S., but it does not have a CITES. Based on what I have read about the laws (under chapter 4, exception III, here: https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/bra112515.pdf), CITES is not required for personal items. For my peace of mind, I wondered if anyone can confirm CITES is not needed for this. Thank you so much.
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I will let one of the more knowledgable folks than me chime in or someone with first hand experience, but just want to remind you are technically going to have to declare the bag and pay duties on it when you re-enter the US because you purchased it abroad. I would imagine in this instance CITEs would be required since they are required when shipping? So I don't see why there would be a difference btwn shipping vs bringing it in your suitcase.
 
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#531
BreezyE said:
I was under the impression that we don't ever have to renew. The CITES was for the original import of our bag/to distinguish species. All we need to do is show it if when traveling customs wants to confirm the species.
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This is what I am having trouble finding clarification for online -- I see there is a requirement for renewal for commercial purposes but I don't see anything regarding personal use travel? Ugh!
 
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#532
BreezyE said:
I was under the impression that we don't ever have to renew. The CITES was for the original import of our bag/to distinguish species. All we need to do is show it if when traveling customs wants to confirm the species.
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Seconding this. I got told by H to always keep the CITES very safe plus a soft copy as it would be quite an effort for them and maybe even impossible to issue a new one esp without a soft copy of the original.
 
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#533
Sleepygalfly said:
Hi everyone,
Recently I scored a Hermes mini bolide in exotic leather at my local boutique in Singapore .... I am planning to bring this new bag to Korea and Japan for my coming holiday.... other than bringing a copy of the CITES certificate, receipt of purchase...do i need to apply for an import license or application prior to my holiday? Appreciate all your advice....
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Hey, Hermes SG told me that they do not provide any CITES documentation on exotic items. Were you able to get one?
 
#535
BreezyE said:
I was under the impression that we don't ever have to renew. The CITES was for the original import of our bag/to distinguish species. All we need to do is show it if when traveling customs wants to confirm the species.
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This is correct. The CITES certificate is for the origin of the skin, to confirm that the hide used does not violate CITES.
 
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#537
going back to your original post
I thought that in countries that are signatories to the CITES agreement, it is illegal to sell items made from animals on the list without a CITES certificate proving that the material was legitimately sourced e.g. farmed and not wild caught

not all 'exotic' skins are on that list

Did Hermes make a blanket statement to you,
or was it specific to your skin?
 
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#538
aimee_thorne said:
Handbag in exotic skin that was purchased and sold by Hermes SG store without accompanying CITES document. Has anyone from Singapore purchased an exotic bag or charm that was accompanied by CITES documents? If so, in what year was the purchase? TIA
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This is definitely not correct - Singapore is a party of CITES. But I have noticed (US based) my alligator watch strap did not come with CITEs but my alligator shoes did
 
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