DIY failure importing trophies

[Ontario Hunter]

Attempting to import my trophies from last August on Thursday. It was a disaster thanks to a couple of lazy and/or stupid and/or both women Canada Customs agents. Here's the details in my letter to my African shipping agent who was looking for feedback.

Hi Martin [Africa shipping agent]

Sorry I didn't have time to provide details of the not so pleasurable conclusion. Inference may have been your end was responsible. Not really. See email to my Member of Parlaiment with details. Some good info for you folks to consider. Hoping for a quick resolution as I am scheduled to return to Africa later this week. If not sorted out by then, either the trophies will be burned in incinerator or I will have to cancel the Africa trip.

Whenever possible I certainly recommend you avoid booking cargo flights to Pearson arriving that late in the day. Canada Customs does have agents in the air cargo section of the airport but they close that office at 5:30 pm. After that the client or broker need to 1) wait for cargo to be unloaded from the plane, 2) wait for cargo personnel to unwrap and sort pallete from the plane (as far as I could see there was one person after 5:30 working on the warehouse docks, one person working the desk and two others hiding out somewhere), 3) get the paperwork confirming crate is in warehouse and drive 35 minutes to opposite end of airport to Canada Customs 24 hr office, and 4) try to convince a customs officer to leave that air conditioned office and return to the cargo warehouse in stifling heat/humidity or subzero blowing snow to inspect and release the crate. Good luck with that. Also, good luck finding a broker who will meet a flight after 5:30 pm and go through all this crap. At best, the client can expect to pay a day's storage fees. If arriving on Thursday or Friday, probably several days storage fees! Clients should be forewarned they can expect at least one day's storage fees. It's only fair they know what to expect. Brokers will not provide that info to clients. They can be expected to conceal it.

Thanks for your help getting the shipment here.
....

Hi [to MP's office]

I had eleven hunting trophies shipped from South Africa to Pearson Airport, arriving yesterday at 18:24 hrs. I had previously contactacted Canadian CITES and Canada Customs at Pigeon River re importation of these items. Canadian CITES officer informed me by email that none of these animals would present any importation issues. Two of them, red lechwe and Barbary sheep are on the CITES Appendix 2 list but she assured me Appendix 2 animals do not require permits for importation. And Canadian regulation confirms this (see attached below). The agent at Pigeon River confirmed that Canada Customs agents perform inspections on behalf of CITES to ensure the shipping documentation is in order and matches the animals shipped. He also confirmed that for cleaned and bleached skulls and fully tanned hides there should be no issues passing primary Customs inspection. So I arranged for my daughter to accompany me for the long drive [17+ hours] to Pearson from Thunder Bay. She was able to meet with Dr Wm Kingston for consultation at Sunnybrook Hospital earlier in the day. We anticipated moving the trophies through customs later after they arrived and then driving home.

We confirmed the trophies arrived at the freight warehouse and then we took the documents from there all the way around to the other side of the airport to Canada Customs 24 hr office. In the meantime a severe thunderstorm was breaking. At Canada Customs the agent claimed she could not go inspect and release the trophy shipment because two animals are on Appendix 2 list and by regulation they must be inspected by CFIA [Canada Food Inspection Agency] which could take several days. In the meantime my trophies will have to remain in warehouse accumulating storage fees of hundreds of dollars per day. I pointed out CFIA has no concern with verifying CITES documentation matches animals and that in any event Appendix 2 animals do not require CITES permits for importation into Canada. Then the agent's supervisor chimed in claiming that ALL trophies entering Canada must be inspected by CFIA. Again, I pointed out that initial inspection can and usually is done by Canada Customs agents with trophies only being referred to CFIA if they are dirty, unclean, untreated, questionable identification, etc. I offered to pull up on my phone emails with attached photos and videos from the South African taxidermist that clearly show the shipment was indeed very clean and fully preserved. They were not interested. The supervisor again claimed ALL trophies ALWAYS are inspected by CFIA. I said I could show them photos proving that is not the case. My first shipment of trophies from 2019 was delivered to Thunder Bay the day COVID lockdown went into effect February 2020. The stench of rotting flesh almost knocked me over when I opened the crate in my driveway. No one had opened that crate for inspection! Fortunately, we are in the taxidermy business and I promptly cleaned and bleached the entire mess so it could be safely displayed in our showroom. I offered to show them photos of rotting flesh and bugs but the agents were not interested. I am almost certain no one opened the second crate two years later. The way the trophies were packed and the condition of the crate, particularly the untouched screws in the lid, seemed to indicate it had not been opened. Fortunately, though all but one trophy in that shipment was damaged or poorly prepared, all were at least appropriately cleaned. So there is no basis in fact for the agents' claim that ALL trophies must be cleared by CFIA and this has been confirmed by other Canadian taxidermists we know. It can happen (usually for semitreated "dip and pack" hides) but it is not mandatory. This is a case of agents who simply did not want to leave their air conditioned office and drive forty minutes through traffic and rain to do their job. Instead, we had to leave and drive through the night without the trophies we came to pick up.

I was provided contact information to followup on the shipment. The email address is apparently bogus and the voice-mail box is full for one number. During the drive back to Thunder Bay I did finally get through to an agent at the second number who was only interested in making excuses for the two agents of last night. I asked to speak to a supervisor. She took my number and said a supervisor would call me. No one has called back and the office is no longer answering my calls. I can no longer keep track of my personal goods in the air cargo warehouse.

Please resolve this for me. There is no excuse for me to have to pay fees for storing that small box over the weekend. There is no excuse for me to have to drive down to Pearson and back again because a couple of Canada Customs agents can't or won't do their job.

I look forward to hearing from you.

...

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone


-------- Original message --------
From:

 

[Rem280]

Toronto Pearson is the worst airport. Sorry to hear about the issues.

 

[BRICKBURN]

.............. Canadian CITES officer informed me by email that none of these animals would present any importation issues. Two of them, red lechwe and Barbary sheep are on the CITES Appendix 2 list but she assured me Appendix 2 animals do not require permits for importation.

This appears to be one of those situations where asking the exact question required gets you the proper information. If not, too bad. OUCH.

Indeed, there are NO CITES IMPORT PERMITS required on CITES II animals to get them into Canada. You can not get one issued because they do not exist.
However, CITES II listed species require CITES EXPORT PERMITS from the Country of Origin to get into Canada. Without the Export permit there is no proof the listed species were properly acquired and exported legally from the country of origin.

The agent at Pigeon River confirmed that Canada Customs agents perform inspections on behalf of CITES to ensure the shipping documentation is in order and matches the animals shipped. He also confirmed that for cleaned and bleached skulls and fully tanned hides there should be no issues passing primary Customs inspection.

As long as all the paperwork is in place this is correct. That is CITES II Export permits had best be in that envelope that came along with your trophies.

. At Canada Customs the agent claimed she could not go inspect and release ..........they must be inspected by CFIA [Canada Food Inspection Agency] which could take several days. In the meantime my trophies will have to remain in warehouse.

CFIA does inspection for disease on imports.

I pointed out CFIA has no concern with verifying CITES documentation matches animals and that in any event Appendix 2 animals do not require CITES permits for importation into Canada. Then the agent's supervisor chimed in claiming that ALL trophies entering Canada must be inspected by CFIA.

CFIA has nothing to do with CITES inspections. It is CUSTOMS job to ensure compliance. If they would like to consult with a Vet from the CFIA then great.
As noted earlier, CITES II do require permits to enter Canada. They are provided by the country of origin.
Canada Customs actually had an identification manual for all CITES species to help the less informed officers process these critters. No idea if that manual is defunct. Sounds like someone out there could use it.

. The supervisor again claimed ALL trophies ALWAYS are inspected by CFIA............ So there is no basis in fact for the agents' claim that ALL trophies must be cleared by CFIA and this has been confirmed by other Canadian taxidermists we know. It can happen (usually for semitreated "dip and pack" hides) but it is not mandatory. ............

CFIA is responsible for inspections for disease on every imported shipment/crate. Indeed, mandatory inspection has been a policy out here for some time. The CFIA decided, after a gruesome discovery (Filthy dirty, bug ridden garbage) in one shipment of trophies from Africa, that ALL SHIPMENTS WOULD REQUIRE CFIA INSPECTION. Canada Customs would not clear anything without a CFIA STAMP on the paperwork. Never have in that last 15 years. (Unless by accident).
The CFIA implemented a fee for that inspection service several years ago. I have always called the CFIA to inform them my shipment is coming and shortly after its arrival to have them show up to the warehouse. (I don't wait for the warehouse to call them) They only work day time office hours out here. So, you wait until they get to the warehouse to crack the crate. Then I call the warehouse to make sure they showed up when they said they would.
Then, and only then, do I leave for the airport.

At YYC I make sure I show up after day time office hours to avoid the typical customs office folks and go into the airport proper. I grab the paperwork at the warehouse, ensure it has that CFIA stamp of approval on it, and proceed to the 24 hour Customs office. On the drive around the airport I am praying that a large number of jets did not just land or no one will be available until the influx has passed. I have been fortunate thus far.
If my paperwork is all in order, sometimes requiring my educating some folks in the Customs uniforms, I pay them my fees and get my final CUSTOMS STAMP on the paperwork. Then grab my paperwork and head off to the warehouse. They look for those stamps, charge me their fees for the pleasure of offloading my crate from the plane, etc. and I back up to the door and they throw the crate on my truck. (I did a return trip to the Customs office once because they failed to stamp all the papers. Went back asked for the stamp and then turned around again. Fun. Now I check the papers for all the stamps myself.)
Around here they usually give a couple of days grace period before they start charging any storage fees. YYZ, who knows. Maybe they are just so super special that they think that you should be charged by the minute.

If your CITES Export Permits from RSA are in the envelope you are golden. If not, someone in RSA needs to have their ass kicked.


Good luck. I hope it works out.

 

[Safari Dave]

My first instinct has always been to DYI everything.


As I'm approaching 60, I don't think I am as clever as I used to think I was...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

This appears to be one of those situations where asking the exact question required gets you the proper information. If not, too bad. OUCH.

Indeed, there are NO CITES IMPORT PERMITS required on CITES II animals to get them into Canada. You can not get one issued because they do not exist.
However, CITES II listed species require CITES EXPORT PERMITS from the Country of Origin to get into Canada. Without the Export permit there is no proof the listed species were properly acquired and exported legally from the country of origin.


As long as all the paperwork is in place this is correct. That is CITES II Export permits had best be in that envelope that came along with your trophies.


CFIA does inspection for disease on imports.

CFIA has nothing to do with CITES inspections. It is CUSTOMS job to ensure compliance. If they would like to consult with a Vet from the CFIA then great.
As noted earlier, CITES II do require permits to enter Canada. They are provided by the country of origin.
Canada Customs actually had an identification manual for all CITES species to help the less informed officers process these critters. No idea if that manual is defunct. Sounds like someone out there could use it.


CFIA is responsible for inspections for disease on every imported shipment/crate. Indeed, mandatory inspection has been a policy out here for some time. The CFIA decided, after a gruesome discovery (Filthy dirty, bug ridden garbage) in one shipment of trophies from Africa, that ALL SHIPMENTS WOULD REQUIRE CFIA INSPECTION. Canada Customs would not clear anything without a CFIA STAMP on the paperwork. Never have in that last 15 years. (Unless by accident).
The CFIA implemented a fee for that inspection service several years ago. I have always called the CFIA to inform them my shipment is coming and shortly after its arrival to have them show up to the warehouse. (I don't wait for the warehouse to call them) They only work day time office hours out here. So, you wait until they get to the warehouse to crack the crate. Then I call the warehouse to make sure they showed up when they said they would.
Then, and only then, do I leave for the airport.

At YYC I make sure I show up after day time office hours to avoid the typical customs office folks and go into the airport proper. I grab the paperwork at the warehouse, ensure it has that CFIA stamp of approval on it, and proceed to the 24 hour Customs office. On the drive around the airport I am praying that a large number of jets did not just land or no one will be available until the influx has passed. I have been fortunate thus far.
If my paperwork is all in order, sometimes requiring my educating some folks in the Customs uniforms, I pay them my fees and get my final CUSTOMS STAMP on the paperwork. Then grab my paperwork and head off to the warehouse. They look for those stamps, charge me their fees for the pleasure of offloading my crate from the plane, etc. and I back up to the door and they throw the crate on my truck. (I did a return trip to the Customs office once because they failed to stamp all the papers. Went back asked for the stamp and then turned around again. Fun. Now I check the papers for all the stamps myself.)
Around here they usually give a couple of days grace period before they start charging any storage fees. YYZ, who knows. Maybe they are just so super special that they think that you should be charged by the minute.

If your CITES Export Permits from RSA are in the envelope you are golden, If not, someone in RSA needs to have their ass kicked.


Good luck. I hope it works out.

Yes, I had the South African CITES paperwork for Barbary sheep and red lechwe in hand with the original seals from South Africa. None of the previous two crates had paperwork indicating CFIA inspection. Indeed, I find it hard to believe anyone could open that first crate in 2020 and not know something was terribly wrong (see attached images). I'm also perplexed why the customs agent at Pigeon River would tell me this shipment should roll through Pearson without difficulty. It's been my understanding (from other Canadian taxidermists) that finished trophies (e.g. mounted animals, bleached skulls, and fully tanned hides) will not require CFIA inspection ... which makes sense. Are leather shoes and felt hats inspected by CFIA when imported? I don't think so. I can also appreciate why partially or unfinished taxidermy items need to be inspected, particularly dip and packed capes and hides.

I am now convinced this will be my last trip to Africa. It's just become way too messed up by middlemen, whether govt agents, freight companies, or taxidermists. Sadly, it doesn't need to be that way. Hopefully, stories like this can prepare others who wish to avoid the same pitfalls. I suspect this shipment will probably have to go in the burner. I will not be available to get the stuff home.

 

[fourfive8]

Sadly all too common and truly sorry to hear about your cluster flop with a well developed, entrenched big government bureaucracy. The result will be counterproductive to the wildlife resource. Various markets like the Chinese will end up with more animals. All illegally taken, to satisfy their growing population of wealthy oligarchs who have gotten their wealth by peddling crap, including green energy crap to the West. What a system! Bureaucrats protect their own and the systems they dwell in. It is called the “Deep State”. We are witness to its corruption everyday now here in the US.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I had Advanced Taxidermy act as my agent at Pearson to collect my crate from SA. My crate collected a few dollars in storage charges before they even informed me it arrived. It might be worth a quick call to Advanced and tell them you’re plight. They might be able to help.

 

[sestoppelman]

Last time I did the DIY here, it was a nightmare some will recall the sad affair. In the end I got my stuff released by FWS but it was not fun!
As to making it your last trip? I wouldnt go that far. Just do a pics only trip from now on, sort of what my plan is if I can make something come together.
The dealing with trophy issues makes for lots of anxiety, not to mention a huge amount of money between the in country work, shipping, brokers, and then taxidermy. It really adds up.

 

[RR 314]

What a mess! Hope it gets sorted. For next time, if there is a next time, coping is easier with ample duty free liquor.

 

[steve white]

Maybe it would sooth your troubled brow to hire some ruffians to beat the snot-bubbles out of those two, lol--just kidding but you can daydream, right?

 

[Red Leg]

Yes, I had the South African CITES paperwork for Barbary sheep and red lechwe in hand with the original seals from South Africa. None of the previous two crates had paperwork indicating CFIA inspection. Indeed, I find it hard to believe anyone could open that first crate in 2020 and not know something was terribly wrong (see attached images). I'm also perplexed why the customs agent at Pigeon River would tell me this shipment should roll through Pearson without difficulty. It's been my understanding (from other Canadian taxidermists) that finished trophies (e.g. mounted animals, bleached skulls, and fully tanned hides) will not require CFIA inspection ... which makes sense. Are leather shoes and felt hats inspected by CFIA when imported? I don't think so. I can also appreciate why partially or unfinished taxidermy items need to be inspected, particularly dip and packed capes and hides.

I am now convinced this will be my last trip to Africa. It's just become way too messed up by middlemen, whether govt agents, freight companies, or taxidermists. Sadly, it doesn't need to be that way. Hopefully, stories like this can prepare others who wish to avoid the same pitfalls. I suspect this shipment will probably have to go in the burner. I will not be available to get the stuff home.
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I truly do not want to be perceived as being flippant. I also fully understand your frustration.

However, I would strongly suggest hiring your own middle-man to handle this process. Yes, it will cost more money, but my time and my level of frustration has a price tag as well. I use Safari Specialty Importers. They are US based, so I have no idea if they are available to help you. But someone in Canada fills the same business model.

There are things that we simply do not do as well as people who do it every day. Often - even typically - with this sort of thing they have relationships with the key members of the bureaucracy at every port of entry. That too has a value. Figure it into the budget and hire them to run this sort of obstacle course.

Really hope you get it sorted out.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Never ceases to amaze me how luck of the draw comes into play at points of entry.
Sucks you ended up suffering the consequences.

 

[fourfive8]

Tyranny and fascism share the same attributes as demo'd in this example along with many examples. The tip of the iceberg was again made obvious to me beginning several years ago where added special agents are used to screen for and dip "suspected" boot/shoe soles in some kind of pesticide at airport ports of entry returning from Africa. This nonsense on display of the total lack of practical effectiveness was overtly stupid from the beginning. Yet willing and brainwashed bureaucrat employees dutifully carried out the orders or at least put on a show in doing so while willing sheeple complied. We only have to look at the pervious 3 years of the covid scamdemic to see more parallels. I still see too many steeple walking around in masks. Try to convince me there is no such thing as mass brainwashing.

 

[Hunt anything]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, hope your upcoming trip is successful to take some of the sting out of this debacle!

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Do what you do well to earn the money to pay the other person what they do well.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Last two times I hired a broker to do this. What a mess! First time the crate was sent to the wrong destination on the freight truck. As in four hours drive to the wrong destination. Second time the broker simply did not attend to the shipment when it arrived at Pearson. After more than a week I was able to find out it was sitting in the warehouse by contacting her supervisor. I suggested that the broker pay the storage fees. Her explanation was Turkish Airlines didn't let Customs know the freight had arrived. Like that's their job? She had the flight booking details before the stuff left Joberg. She knew when it would be in the warehouse. It's her job to get Customs on it. Brokerage (Cole International) wouldn't even refund their fee. Then the stuff disappeared on Gardewine Freight. That outfit didn't know if it had been picked up at the warehouse and Cole wouldn't follow up. I got the manager at our local terminal to keep an eye out for it. Nice guy.

 

[Red Leg]

Last two times I hired a broker to do this. What a mess! First time the crate was sent to the wrong destination on the freight truck. As in four hours drive to the wrong destination. Second time the broker simply did not attend to the shipment when it arrived at Pearson. After more than a week I was able to find out it was sitting in the warehouse by contacting her supervisor. I suggested that the broker pay the storage fees. Her explanation was Turkish Airlines didn't let Customs know the freight had arrived. Like that's their job? She had the flight booking details before the stuff left Joberg. She knew when it would be in the warehouse. It's her job to get Customs on it. Brokerage (Cole International) wouldn't even refund their fee. Then the stuff disappeared on Gardewine Freight. That outfit didn't know if it had been picked up at the warehouse and Cole wouldn't follow up. I got the manager at our local terminal to keep an eye out for it. Nice guy.

Then I would hire someone competent. I have been using my current one for years and many import jobs - some to a taxidermist, some straight to the house. Never an issue.

 

[mdwest]

I’m typically all about DIY… I book my own international flights… I build a lot of my own gear (including rifles and knives), etc etc… I rarely hire a middle man for anything..

2 things I absolutely don’t do for myself when planning a safari… I don’t obtain my own permits for rifles and ammo (I hire Henry at Rifle Permits).. and I don’t import my own taxidermy items (I hire a broker)..

Mind you, import and export is something I do a LOT of in my day job.. to include highly controlled items like advanced communications systems, military grade weapons, etc… I literally “wrote the book” on export controls for 3 different defense contracting firms (export control manuals)…

But I dont screw around with personal firearms permits or importing trophy’s..

the cost of a broker in both of these cases is far less than the cost of my time and the general ass pain associated with each…

With trophy’s in particular, the rules and regulations keep changing.. there a lot to keep up with.. and there are several different agencies to deal with… many of whom are infiltrated with a surplus of incompetent and/or lazy, self righteous personnel…

Not exaggerating or bullshitting… it is FAR easier to export military grade thermal imaging equipment and B7 armored vehicles into Central Africa… than it is to bring a baboon skull into North Texas… there’s less paperwork, less government officials involved, and less drama in general…

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Then I would hire someone competent. I have been using my current one for years and many import jobs - some to a taxidermist, some straight to the house. Never an issue.

I'll see if I can find someone to pick up the pieces. There's more than one brokerage firm down there (but only one here locally). Trying to get anyone motivated is a challenge. No specialist importers here that I've been able to find. Most of the taxidermists I contacted do their own importing for the same reasons. We only deal with stuff crossing to and from US and it is exempt from this.

I have learned Pearson is a huge clown act. What was going on, or rather not going on, at that warehouse was a real eye opener. The truck drivers were plenty frustrated. Both Hindu gals working day shift deserve a blindfold and cigarette. I'm sure the bulletproof glass was installed for their benefit. The Chinese lad working the night shift desk deserves a medal. I would have given him a generous tip but I had no cash and no time to get any.

 

[Red Leg]

I'll see if I can find someone to pick up the pieces. There's more than one brokerage firm down there (but only one here locally). Trying to get anyone motivated is a challenge. No specialist importers here that I've been able to find. Most of the taxidermists I contacted do their own importing for the same reasons. We only deal with stuff crossing to and from US and it is exempt from this.

I have learned Pearson is a huge clown act. What was going on, or rather not going on, at that warehouse was a real eye opener. The truck drivers were plenty frustrated. Both Hindu gals working day shift deserve a blindfold and cigarette. I'm sure the bulletproof glass was installed for their benefit. The Chinese lad working the night shift desk deserves a medal. I would have given him a generous tip but I had no cash and no time to get any.

From what I have seen throughout the Commonwealth, Anglo Saxons are fast becoming an endangered species.