chas wrote:
Question: The description says the flute contains some ivory (in the screw cap), but says there's no VAT if it's bought by someone in the US. Will they do all the paperwork so that it can legally cross national boundaries? I thought this was very difficult these days.
My understanding
[italics mine] from
https://www.fws.gov/international/trave ... swers.html and various US Wildlife definition pages:
Can I import items…
African elephant ivory [African Elephant Conservation Act]…for noncommercial purposes?
[the broader definition of commercial more accurately reflects what we consider as “engaging in business.”]Certain noncommercial imports are allowed when specific criteria are met:
You may import a worked African elephant ivory item into the United States for the noncommercial purposes listed below if it was legally acquired and removed from the wild prior to the listing of the African elephant under CITES (February 26, 1976):
Quote:
What does “legally acquired prior to February 26, 1976” mean?
February 26, 1976, is the date the African elephant was first listed under CITES (the pre-Convention date). An item that contains African elephant ivory that was removed from the wild prior to February 26, 1976, is considered to be a pre-Convention specimen. This does not mean that the current owner must have purchased or acquired it prior to 1976, but that the item was manufactured from ivory that was taken from the wild prior to 1976.
For example, a musical instrument that was manufactured in 1965 using African elephant ivory would be considered a pre-Convention specimen. Likewise, an instrument manufactured in 1985 using ivory acquired by the manufacturer in 1975 would also be considered a pre-Convention specimen. Since it is unlawful to possess specimens that have been traded contrary to CITES or taken in violation of the ESA [Endangered Species Act], the ivory must have been legally acquired.
Worked ivory that was legally acquired and removed from the wild prior to February 26, 1976 and is either:
Part of a musical instrument; or
We do not require an ESA import permit for ivory items imported as part of a household move, inheritance, musical instrument, or traveling exhibition.
All ivory items must be accompanied by a valid CITES document from the country of export. You can find contact information for CITES offices at the following website:
http://cites.org/eng/cms/index.php/component/cpAll wildlife (including parts and products) imported into or exported from the United States for any purpose must be declared to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. Contact the port you intend to use for more information.
If the item is an antique, it must enter through an endangered species “antique port.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) designated 13 ports for the entry of antiques made of ESA-listed species on September 22, 1982 (19 C.F.R. 12.26). The following ports are authorized: Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; Baltimore, Maryland, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; Anchorage, Alaska, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Chicago, Illinois.
Pretty similar language for
Asian elephant ivory may only be imported into the United States for noncommercial purposes if it qualifies as antique, or as pre-Act or is accompanied by an ESA export permit for scientific or enhancement of survival purposes.
To qualify for the ESA antiques exemption, an item must meet all of the following criteria [seller/importer/exporter must demonstrate]:
A: It is 100 years or older.
B: It is composed in whole or in part of an ESA-listed species;
C: It has not been repaired or modified with any such species after December 27, 1973; and
D: It is being or was imported through an endangered species “antique port.”*
TO ME, the above indicates that the exporter would need to provide a CITES export document, identify/declare the item as an "antique [age], musical instrument, containing ivory [legally acquired & unmodified, as originally manufactured with musical instrument]". Certainly any other documentation supporting the instrument's origin woud likely be helpful. I think the declaration would enable the package to be directed to one of the valid ports for examination & clearance & ultimate delivery.
Do you want to go in halfsies

?
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Wooden Flute Obsession CDs (3 volumes, 6 discs, 7 hours, 120 players/tracks)
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