Importing and Exporting Your
Commercial Wildlife Shipment
How do I import or export my commercial wildlife
shipment?
Generally, you must import or export your shipment through one
of our
designated ports
, declare your shipment to us on a
special form
, and receive clearance from us for your shipment.
In most cases, you must be
licensed
with us and pay
user
fees
for each shipment.
What is wildlife?
Wildlife is any living or dead wild animal, its parts, and products
made from it. Wildlife not only includes mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, and fish, but also invertebrates such as insects,
crustaceans, arthropods, molluscs and coelenterates.
What about animals that are captive-born
or bred, or hatched in captivity?
These animals and their parts, products, eggs, and offspring are
also wildlife.
How do you define import?
Any wildlife introduced or brought into, or landed on, any place
under U.S. jurisdiction is an import.
How do you define export?
Any wildlife that departs, is sent, or shipped from, is carried
out of, or is consigned to a carrier from a place under U.S.
jurisdiction with a destination outside of the United States
is an export.
Does U.S. Customs and Border Protection use
the same definitions?
No. Our rules apply to some shipments that Customs does not consider
imports or exports.
What if my shipment is in transit through
the United States?
Shipments that are in transit through the United States and remain
under Customs bond do not have to be declared to us. Your in-transit
shipment, however, must comply with foreign wildlife laws, and
live wildlife must be transported humanely.
Be aware that shipments of certain species (such
as those listed as
endangered
and threatened species
,
migratory
birds
, marine mammals, or
injurious
species
) may not transit the United States.
Is my shipment an import or export if it
is placed in a customs bonded warehouse or free trade zone?
Yes. Such shipments would be imports or exports, even though U.S.
Customs and Border Protection does not regulate them as such.
You and your shipment must meet wildlife requirements.
Are any wildlife species exempt from these
requirements?
Certain shellfish and dead fish products that are to be eaten
by humans or animals may be exempt if they do not require a permit
under 50 CFR 17 (
endangered
and threatened species
) or 50 CFR 23 (
species
listed under CITES
– the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
Certain domesticated animals are exempt provided
they did not originally come from the wild.
What is a designated port?
We have designated certain ports for importing and exporting wildlife
to consolidate shipments at specific locations and provide
more efficient service. You may import or export your shipment
through any of the following ports:
Anchorage,
Atlanta,
Baltimore, Boston,
Chicago,
Dallas, Honolulu, Houston, Los
Angeles, Louisville, Memphis,
Miami,
New
Orleans, New York, Newark, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Do I have to use a designated port for all
shipments?
No. You can import or export certain shipments at authorized border
ports or special ports.
When may I use a border port?
You may import or export your shipment at an authorized border
port only if the wildlife itself originally comes from the
United States,
Canada
, or
Mexico
and your shipment is being sent from and going to one of these
countries.
You may not use a border port for wildlife that originates
outside of North America or for species that require a permit
under 50 CFR 16, 17, 18, 21, or 23. (These regulations deal with
injurious
species
,
endangered
and threatened species
,
bald
and golden eagles
,
migratory
birds
,
marine
mammals
and
CITES
species
.)
When
may I use a special port?
Special ports
are located in Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Guam. You may use special
ports to import wildlife into these places as a final destination.
You may export wildlife that originates in Alaska,
Puerto Rico, or Guam from a special port in that specific state
or territory. Exports of wildlife that originates in the U.S.
Virgin Islands may only use the special port of Guam. You may
not use special ports for wildlife that requires a permit under
50 CFR 16, 17, 18, 21, or 23 (These regulations deal with
injurious
species
,
endangered
and threatened species
,
bald
and golden eagles
,
migratory
birds
,
marine
mammals
and
CITES
species
.)
May I use any other ports?
Under very limited circumstances, you may be
authorized
under permit
to use a port that does not normally handle wildlife trade. You
must show that using one of our authorized ports would result
in substantial deterioration or loss of the wildlife, or would
cause an undue economic hardship. Final approval to use a non-authorized
port depends on the availability of inspection services.
When do I declare my shipment for import?
You must file a Declaration for Importation or Exportation of
Fish or Wildlife (Form 3-177) with us at an authorized port of
entry and receive clearance from us before U.S. Customs releases
your shipment.
When do I declare my shipment for export?
You must file
Form 3-177
with us at an authorized port and receive clearance from us before
your shipment is containerized or physically loaded on a vehicle,
aircraft, or vessel, unless authorized otherwise by us.
Are there any exceptions to the declaration
requirement?
Yes. There are two exceptions.
Live oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops, and their
eggs, larvae, or juvenile forms that are exported for
propagation or research related to propagation are exempt from
declaration requirements, provided they do not require a permit
under 50 CFR 17 (endangered and threatened species) or 23 (CITES-protected
species).
You do not have to declare exports of
live farm-raised fish eggs or live farm-raised fish unless they
require a permit under 50 CFR 17 or 23.
Do I need a license to import or export wildlife?
Yes. Generally anyone engaging in business as an importer or exporter
of wildlife must obtain a
license
from us.
Do I have to pay fees to import or export
wildlife?
Yes. You must pay
user
fees
for each shipment imported or exported once you are licensed by
us. These fees differ based on the type of port you use.
Are there other wildlife laws I need to know
about?
Yes. Many
federal
laws
that protect wildlife have import/export requirements. These laws
include the Lacey Act, Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, Eagle Protection Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act,
African Elephant Conservation Act, Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation
Act, and Wild Bird Conservation Act.
You must also ensure that your wildlife shipment
complies with
state
and
foreign
wildlife laws.
Are there any other agencies I need to contact?
Yes. Other federal agencies involved with the import and export
of wildlife may have additional requirements. These agencies
include
U.S.
Customs and Border Protection
; the Department of Agriculture’s
Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service
; the
U.S.
Public Health Service
; the
U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
; and the
National Marine
Fisheries Service
.
You should also contact your
state
fish and wildlife agency
about any state requirements or restrictions.