Trophy Import issues into Canada

[BRICKBURN]

Yet ANOTHER interpretation has been thrown at me today by an inspector.

I love to get new responses with every telephone call you make. This of course differs completely from the head honchos interpretation I shared earlier.


I asked if it was about Botswana. Answer was "NO". Anything: "Africa"

If not fully tanned the hides will have to be disinfected at an approved facility.

Basically, any taxidermist that bothers to jump the whoops to become "APPROVED".

I am awaiting the email on the policy (interpretation) and the current list of people (facilities) around here.


This additional Pain in my A** is about to guarantee EURO MOUNTS!


I'll share the email results....

 

[BRICKBURN]

THE EMAIL:

Hello,

The Regulations regarding the importation of integumentary tissues (hunting trophies) are found in section 42 of Part IV of the Health of Animals Regulations. Other sections of Part IV, notably sections 40 and 41, also relate to the importation of integumentary tissues, among other animal by-products, as well as Part XIII, section 160. The Health of Animals Regulations can be found here:

Health of Animals Regulations

Additionally, the requirements for imported tissues covered by these regulations are covered by the Importation of Integumentary Tissues policy, and can be found here:

Importation of Integumentary Tissue - Animals - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Current interpretation of this policy means that imported trophies from Africa must be professionally prepared taxidermy mounted animals in display form or fully tanned. Any specimens not in this condition must be sent for disinfection at an approved site, destroyed, or returned to origin.

If you have questions or concerns about the policy, please feel free to contact me or any member of our animal health inspection team. Additionally, if you have questions you feel cannot be answered at the district office level, you may send questions to the following email address:

importsahwest@inspection.gc.ca

If you disagree with the way the policy is being enforced or with its wording, you may contact the CFIA Complaints and Appeals Office. The Complaints and Appeals Office allows stakeholders to register complaints and appeals related to quality of service, administrative errors and regulatory decisions. You can find more information here:

Complaints and Appeals Office - About the Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

 

[BRICKBURN]

To get approved the Taxidermist/ facility will have to contact the office and jump the hoops and be inspected at a cost to them of $60.00 / hour with an estimate of that taking 6 hours.
This has to be repeated every two years.

The price just went up on local taxidermy.

 

[BRICKBURN]

The current list of Approved facilities for disinfection for Western Canada:

Select Taxidermy Ltd - Calgary, AB
Mountainview Taxidermy - Olds, AB
Alberta Taxidermy - New Sarepta, AB
Orion Taxidermy - Moose Jaw, SK
Northern Tanners - Carrot River, SK
Advance Fur Dressers - Vernon, BC
River Valley Tanners -Kenville, MB
International Fur Dressers & Dyers, Ltd - Winnipeg, MB


Only one international entry point in the whole list. hmmmm.

 

[toxic111]

Brickburn, contact Kim at Orion, her agent in SA is even handling the packing of my trophies into the plastic container. That way it can go direct to her & their approved facility.

Hoping to have my trophies in Canada by the end of the month.... been a long wait to even get this far.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Brickburn, contact Kim at Orion, her agent in SA is even handling the packing of my trophies into the plastic container. That way it can go direct to her & their approved facility.

Hoping to have my trophies in Canada by the end of the month.... been a long wait to even get this far.

Thanks.



I am more likely going to be the guy to use the complaint line and have a conversation about this stupidity.

2013 and now they want to worry about trophies coming into the country!!!

We already have Foot and Mouth, Brucelosis, Rabies, and a host of others.


This crap is a method of abdicating responsibility for actually doing an inspection and becoming obstructionist.

PURE BS!

 

[garyleach]

Thxs Brickburn, keep us posted and you are 100% correct, its PURE BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[toxic111]

It is bs I agree, but I don't have the time or the to battle the gov't. SCI & people like you & Orion have been doing what they can on it. But if they are enforcing existing rules now there must be a reason for it.. probably bad work out of africa.... and that will do it.

 

[BRICKBURN]

..........But if they are enforcing existing rules now .

It is just someones interpretation. I can interpret it another way.

They obviously anticipate that someone can appeal.

I'll see how this works:

:banghead:

unch:

 

[Hank2211]

I was concerned about this since I was expecting a shipment of trophies in Calgary from RSA. The shipment arrived about 10 days ago, some taxidermied, sone dipped and packed. Unprocessed skins, skulls and horns. The process was no different than what I've experienced in the past - no questions about anything, just a bit of a delay in getting clearance because of a delay waiting on the inspectors to have a look, as well as two CITES App. 2 animals in the bunch.

If things have changed, no one's told Calgary CBSA about it.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I was concerned about this since I was expecting a shipment of trophies in Calgary from RSA. The shipment arrived about 10 days ago, some taxidermied, sone dipped and packed. Unprocessed skins, skulls and horns. The process was no different than what I've experienced in the past - no questions about anything, just a bit of a delay in getting clearance because of a delay waiting on the inspectors to have a look, as well as two CITES App. 2 animals in the bunch.

If things have changed, no one's told Calgary CBSA about it.

Glad your trophies made it in safely.


Just goes to show you its up to someones interpretation, or whether they are on their way to a coffee break.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I'm sending some queries out about mixed shipments.

ie. Some finished animals/rugs and some D&P capes and Euro skulls.

I'll let you know what I find out.

The situation is certainly not settled.

 

[AFRICAN INDABA]

Changed Regulation regarding Importing Hunting Trophies into Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency informs that importing requirements for hunting trophies have changed in Canada. In simple form, wildlife trophies that enter Canada must be in a fully taxidermied state meaning ready to mount on a wall or fully mounted (no other taxidermy needed.) Any skins, skulls, horns etc that are NOT fully taxidermied will have to be sent to a CERTIFIED TAXIDERMIST (CFIA APPROVED) to be fully taxidermied before clearance will be issued. They will be treated like quarantined shipments. The most up-to-date policy is "Importation of Integumentary Tissue", available online at:

Importation of Integumentary Tissue - Animals - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

See also: http://www.face.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/facehunttrophyeuderog2aug2013en.pdf

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just heard from Reiser Taxidermy in Namibia that they are waiting for the proper packing materials to be able to send my trophies.

Waiting.......

 

[garyleach]

Keep us posted, i am hearing a lot of mixed signals, but some of them are not good, to me its just another $ grab or another form of a tax, as from what i was told its a piuckle solution that all must be dipped in again and i was told that it would run $300 to $500 for an average crate... But again its all 2nd hand info i am getting..............:think:

 

[Diamondhitch]

Keep us posted, i am hearing a lot of mixed signals, but some of them are not good, to me its just another $ grab or another form of a tax, as from what i was told its a piuckle solution that all must be dipped in again and i was told that it would run $300 to $500 for an average crate... But again its all 2nd hand info i am getting..............:think:

Yep, needs to be pickled which is the 2nd stage of tanning, after salting. Now if some tanneries would become agents it would not cost any more than tanning, however if anyone else does the pickling they will just redo it themselves anyway to control the quality of the pickle so ya it will cost more.

Pickling requires more than dipping, it needs to soak long enough to fully penetrate the hide at a very low PH which also will kill any pathogens, hence the new requirement.

 

[toxic111]

For just an idea my shipping cost to Moose Jaw is coming in at $1600. There was a charge of $250 for the plastic container. I am using a taxidermist that is certified as well.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Keep us posted, i am hearing a lot of mixed signals, but some of them are not good, to me its just another $ grab or another form of a tax, as from what i was told its a piuckle solution that all must be dipped in again and i was told that it would run $300 to $500 for an average crate... But again its all 2nd hand info i am getting..............:think:

One of these days I'm going to go over to the local CFIA office again and have a chat.
Not before hunting season is over though. Not worth wasting my time yet.

 

[garyleach]

Here here Brickburn and yes this time of the yr there are other things to do, have a whitetail, muley buck and bull moose to fill by Nov 30th..... And diamondhitch i talked to my taxidermist and he is working working on it with the tannery he uses, so you nailed it.....:beatingdeadhorse:

 

[Cliffy]

Don't feel alone up there in Canada

Even though the USDA APHIS Manual Table 3-7-4

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/apm_pdf/03_07hides.pdf

allows the release of hard or flint dried ruminant hides to the owner, I have yet to have that be done on several shipments I have had come in. I have always had to reship to an "approved" taxidermist for more processing.

Has anyone been able to get dried capes released directly to them, here in the USA?