Published April 2, 2012 by

Traveling Circus Performers Be Aware – State Travel Ban on Certain Species

Fish and Wildlife Service banned imports and interstate commerce activities that includes the following species: Python molurus (which includes Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus and Indian python Python molurus molurus), Northern African python (Python sebae), Southern African python (Python natalensis), and Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) The official notice was published in 77 Fed. Reg. 3,330.  The notice labels, under Lacey Act, these species as “injurous,” and therefore gives basis to exclude them from interstate commerce.  The notice leaves the door open for exceptions, by permit, and on case by case basis.  But, the notice goes on to state that “[t]he rule does not address under what circumstances a person may qualify for exception to the importation or interstate transportation prohibitions under the zoological purposes provisions,” leaving circus performers in the dark. One thing that is clear, is that a traveling circus performer will need to apply for the permit to take applicable snakes out of state.  If that is not done, and if caught, the performer may get criminal charges filed against him.  The example statement in the notice provides a good example of what can happen: A person would violate the injurious wildlife provisions of the Lacey Act (18…

Read More Traveling Circus Performers Be Aware – State Travel Ban on Certain Species

Product Regulation U.S. Federal Agencies

Fish and Wildlife Service Lacey Act

Published April 24, 2007 by

FWS Declaration Exemption List

Many members of trading community are not sure whether products that they bring into the United States are subject to FWS declaration. This uncertainty may result in unnecessary expenses. For example, an extra careful importer that brings feather products through the port of Savannah (where FWS Office is not present) will IT shipment in bond to Atlanta (closest FWS Office) for FWS purposes. The genus and species of feathers from which products are made is Pavo cristatus. As a result, that importer incurs unnecessary expense because Pavo cristatus is exempt from FWS regulations.Fish and Wildlife Services at the Port of Atlanta, GA kindly shared their procedures check sheet. The check sheet is a basic replica of 50 CFR 14.4. Even if your product is not subject to FWS regulations, it is still highly advisable to annotate scientific name on the commercial invoice.

Read More FWS Declaration Exemption List

Product Regulation U.S. Federal Agencies

Animal Products Fish and Wildlife Service