corals brought back from japan

Creetin · #1 06/06/2006, 08:23 AM

My friend goes to japan 2-4 times a year for work, and i can get him to bring stuff back for me. I was just wondering if it was legal to do si? I asked him and he said he would, But i wanted to find out before i had him do so. If it is i tell him not to bother as i dont want him takin down for bringing that stuff back.
I was thinking on some nice lords and micros.

Sk8r · #2 06/06/2006, 08:48 AM

Usually when going through customs one is asked about live plants or animals, and a false answer could get you in trouble.

Creetin · #3 06/06/2006, 09:05 AM

Well i had every intention to do it legally if it was possable, if not drop it. Thats why i am asking. I tried contacting US customs but got the run around sending me to place after place. I called a dozen people and none knew the answer.
So what would happen if he told them he had a coral?

SPStoner · #4 06/06/2006, 09:26 AM

I'm pretty sure it is illegal to import corals from Japan to the US. Even if he had CITES paperwork, I don't think you can legally do it.

Here's some good reading:

http://www.cites.org/

Creetin · #5 06/06/2006, 09:49 AM

I dont see why the us is taking this approach on japan corals.

Sk8r · #6 06/06/2006, 09:52 AM

I think that you would not have the trouble if you had an import license, but that is done in volume.

Creetin · #7 06/06/2006, 09:56 AM

I looked into an import/export lic. Its easy and cheap to get.
Now getting a airline cargo shipping account is hard. LOL!
Really hard, Its like getting a ccw gun permit in california. LOL

mothra · #8 06/06/2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Creetin
I dont see why the us is taking this approach on japan corals.

I believe that it is the other way around, Japan does not allow export of corals. If you look at the CITES export quotas they are not listed. From conversations with Calfo and others in the past it's my understanding that corals can also be brought into the US under other regulations if all the paperwork is present however the country of origin has to permit the export (IIRC this is how the Marshall Islands stuff gets here). Otherwise it's smuggling.

This is my understanding, be it correct or incorrect.

Creetin · #9 06/06/2006, 11:45 AM

Well that makes more sense. I see corals coming out every location but japan. I thought it was a US japan thing.
Thanks for the clairification!

Japan take down those walls!!

xdusty6920 · #10 06/06/2006, 03:05 PM

i dont know but itd be cool . ive seen alot of unique stuff they have over there. and of course the lords caught my eye as well.

cee · #11 06/06/2006, 07:55 PM

I agree with mothra. Japan closed exports a number of years ago. I can no longer get bonsai trees out of Japan. Some people have managed to do it though, but I'm not sure how and probably don't want to know

Dave

Afishianado · #12 06/10/2006, 10:11 PM

I have hand carried live corals back from a trip to Taiwan. I researched this quite a bit before attempting to do this. The other posters are correct. In order to bring a CITES protected species into the US you must have the proper paperwork from the exporting nation. All corals and anemones are covered under CITES.

In my case there was no chance of getting the "real paperwork" since Taiwan is techincally part of the ROC. The Taiwanese officials That I spoke to were not interested in assisting me to get ROC documentation. So I argued that becasue no exporting paperwork was available then the US had to accept the importation as is. Amazingly, this worked at the customs in Detroit where I reentered the US, I did decalre the corals. I think it would have been foolish to assume that even pre 9/11, me carrying a 3 gallon jug of sea water with a battery powered airpump and hoses attached to the outside would not get questioned at customs.. Ultimately though it came down to this....The person in charge was not happy with me for bringing the corals in to the country the way I had but the bottom line was that they had no facility on site to accept them were they to confiscate them. They decided that the spirit of CITES to protect species would be best served in that instance by allowing me to continue to my destination with the specimens and place them in my system where they would be maintained.

imareefer21 · #13 06/11/2006, 11:25 PM

coral isnt plant nor animal, its coral so technically you could answer the question treuthfully

Laakmann · #14 06/12/2006, 12:06 AM

I am trying to do something similar when I go to Tahiti but with live fish because corals are to hard to get through. I was told by LA customs (airport I would enter US through) that if I had documentation that the fish were pets and not for sale it would be possible.

Amphiprion · #15 06/12/2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by imareefer21
coral isnt plant nor animal, its coral so technically you could answer the question treuthfully

How is coral not an animal?

All Delight · #16 06/17/2006, 11:40 PM

From what I hear its illegal. If he tries he'll probably go to jail. Its just not worth it.

pdimarco · #17 06/18/2006, 06:03 AM

I work for Customs and see no problem with bringing back corals. Most times marine species are exempt most rules. Unless the species is "protected" here in the US ( like Sea Turtles). Just make sure to declare it!!

Creetin · #18 06/18/2006, 11:39 AM

PDImarco, Thanks you. Everybody from customs i talked to said they didnt think it was a problem since it was just going to be a pet, And it was not on the banned list. Like snakeheads ect.
My buddy goes to japan 5 times a year, and he said the japan customs are very easy going.
Thanks!! He said he was going to do it for me, and the worst that will happen is they'll take the corals from him. He will declair it into us. Its going to be for personal use i dont plan on selling them so i am good to go.
Thanks All!!

EricBrian · #19 06/18/2006, 12:12 PM

Will you post back when you get them? Post with pictures?

GreshamH · #20 06/18/2006, 12:49 PM

Problem is, US Fish and Wildlife Service has a whole different idea about this then Customs, as far as importing livestock

You may get a clueless Customs officer, plenty are, but steer clear of a port of entry, they'll be well informed!

GreshamH · #21 06/18/2006, 12:52 PM

It's not on a banned list, but it is a CITES article II, and as the US is a member nation, we have to uphold the regulations and quotas set forth by CITES. There is no clause in CITES for "pets", so the idea of bringing CITES article II corals into the states as "pets" doesn't fly.

pdimarco · #22 06/19/2006, 06:32 AM

You'll be fine don't listen to GreshamH.

Creetin · #23 06/19/2006, 09:06 AM

I know us fish and wildlife has a set of rules of their own i have a family member that used to enforce borders (retired now)
I talked to customs officials and left messages with inspectors. (None whom returned my calls) The officials didnt see a problem with it. We will see. It will be declared and it will be handled in a honest manner.
I'll post about it when it hapens, and yes i'll post pics.
pdimarco thanks. Every official that i talked to in US customs seemed to have the same attitude.
I will look into it further and if i ever get ahold of the us inspector from the japan inbound customs, I'll ask him about the subject.
I left another message with a diff officer today. I am confident i'll find out soon.
Thanks

Afishianado · #24 06/19/2006, 01:54 PM

I do remember that there is a clause for noncommercial private use. That you can import this way. I am sure of the clasue, I am almost sure of the way it reads.

Gresham is correct that all corals and anemones are classified as Cnidarians and as such are protected CITES article II species.

Ultimately the wording of the agreement is vauge enough to allow you to do this, But specific enough to prevent you from running a business and doing it without the proper paperwork.

Creetin · #25 06/19/2006, 02:24 PM

I agree, and i am no business. I am a guy with a fish tank and will not be selling these for profit. Just eye candy.