I have emailed both Fish and Wildlife and CITES for information. F&W hasn't gotten back to me for over a week. I just wrote CITES.
Barbara On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 6:25 AM, Barbara Currier <[email protected]>wrote: > This is what my Craig was talking about, I think. My Bassot that he > restored has all 10,000 year-old mammoth ivory, not African or Asian > elephant, except for the original white keys that were still there, but we > don't have the documentation on that, so that instrument has to stay here in > the US. > > M. Boudet says he is CITES compliant and I see and have played his > instruments here in the US. So, it must work somehow. > > Barbara > > > > > On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 5:30 AM, Colin <[email protected]>wrote: > >> 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 >>>> > >>>> >-- >>>> >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> >Groups "hurdygurdy" group. >>>> >To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>> >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> >[email protected] >>>> >For more options, visit this group at >>>> >http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy >>>> > >>>> >The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found >>>> >at >>>> http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. 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