There's a snag with ivory. The item must have been made before a certain
date (differs with country - I think it's 1973 in the US and 1957 in the UK)
and must be in an unaltered state (i.e. taking an antique ivory item and
remaking it into something else means it cannot be offered for sale although
it isn't illegal to own it).
If the HG dates from before the date and the ivory is therefore legal, there
shouldn't be a problem provided the permits are in order.
http://www.fws.gov/permits/faqs/FaqB.html
refers to parts on bagpipes but ivory is ivory and it also covers the
reworking and alteration of anything with ivory on it.
A repair to the inlay would make it a new item and illegal.
If it was deemed illegal, the item is confiscated and you can't get it back.
Colin Hill.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Gayman" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 4:18 AM
Subject: Re: [HG-new] shipping from France
Barbara,
With the proper documentation and knowledge of what you will experience you
have nothing to fear. The main point here is that they are just doing their
job and trying to certify that the items entering the US are legal and the
proper duty is being paid. They do not want ot keep your item nor do they
want to send it back.
I bought some glassware from the Czech Republic that they shipped to me
using Czech Kroner as the value. I later got a tax bill for $3,200 for $300
dollars of glassware. It took me three weeks to convince FedEx that 32,00 CK
is not the same as $32,000. I finally got it worked out and sent them the
$23 I actually owed them.
Scott
Barbara Currier <[email protected]> wrote:
Thank you, Scott. This is very helpful.
Barbara
On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 8:56 PM, Scott Gayman <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Barbara,
If Mr Boudet includes a statement and cetificate in the box, not on the
outside or in the shipping docs, that states origin and source of the
ivory
it should be just fine. Whatever you do don't call attention to the
package
or the ivory. Customs may hold it up if they do a full inspection but it
is
just as likely that they will not even bother with it at all. It is
acceptable to include the documents inside the box especially for a
shipper
that is unfamiliar with the shipping requirements of the US.
They will try to tax you on it if they think that it is a trade item
that
they can tax you on. Have Mr Boudet label it as "hurdy gurdy in bagpipe
D"
or "Vielle a roue en cornemuse Re". When they ask you what it is, if they
bother to ask, tell them that it is like a mechanical bagpipe.
Bagpipes are not taxable items in the US but hurdy gurdies are not listed
so they usually have no clue what it is. DON'T say that it is like a
mechanical violin. Violins are heavily taxed and customs is well
aquainted
with them.
The basics are this, Customs is looking for items entering into the US
that
are taxable based on production of that item here in the US. It is
designed
to protect the tax status of US manufacturers and even out the playing
field
for US companies that are paying taxes. There are very few bagpipe makers
in
the US and virtually none of them are interested in paying hundreds of
thousands of dollars to protect their tax status. The same goes for hurdy
gurdies, but since they are an uncommon instrument, Customs is unfamiliar
with them and doesn't understand the tax status. So claiming that they
are
bagpipes does not really endanger our tax system.
If you ship with Fedex or UPS they will get the hurdy gurdy through using
their people. Make sure that you use the word "bagpipe" often with them.
They rarely open an item for ivory ( the protection of elephants and the
world awareness of ivory for sale has led to a huge reduction of ivory
trade
except through China).
Scott
Barbara Currier <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi, folks,
>
>My Boudet hurdy gurdy will be finished next month and I'll need to have
>it
>shipped from France to Oregon. My husband is sure it will be confiscated
>when it gets here because there is ivory and mother-of-pearl on it and
he's
>on lutherie e-lists that have related horror stories. I know M. Boudet
uses
>old ivory and works in CITES compliance. However, to be sure, what
>documentation needs to be with the instrument to prove to any U.S.
>inspectors that it's legal? M. Boudet asked me to find out. I emailed
>the
>Department of Fish and Wildlife, but they haven't responded.
>
>Thanks for any help you give this nervous Nellie,
>Barbara
>
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