Re: [ccp4bb] What to put on Custom Declaration for shipped samples?
Hi Frank, I like your letter with the random initiative :-) And then the thread by citing a regulation, which they probably never have heard of. I would additionally add the regulation numbers for the dewar. There are two or three IATA numbers that should be mentioned to indicate its in line with transportation on passenger aircrafts. Jürgen Sent from my iPad On Nov 7, 2012, at 1:39, Frank von Delft frank.vonde...@sgc.ox.ac.ukmailto:frank.vonde...@sgc.ox.ac.uk wrote: Can't say I've made Felix's experiences: I've never had problems and rarely funny looks -- a bit of patient explanation does the job. That's when flying with the dry shipper myself, so not quite what you asked; but I carry along a letter with nice departmental university letter-head and important-looking signature, along the lines pasted at the bottom. phx On 06/11/2012 21:32, Felix Frolow wrote: Jim, dottore... Starting back traveling to synchrotrons in the beginning of 80 I say, do not volunteer information, more magic words you say, more papers you fetch, more faxes you send in advance more they will torture you. You do not need custom declaration anywhere (at least in Europe), in states I would drive We have send a fax with a full description of Polaroid 3000ASA in 1992 in Heathrow, and they ( security, I was ready to take them apart) burn these sensitive films on the purpose by X-rays on our way to Photon Factory. Many years after that in 2008, one of these people (I have very good memory) again in Heathrow told me - you have two choices - either irradiation or invasive check, and we will not be gentle. I choose irradiation. I will met him next time in a bar or a pub and will take very nice care of him :-) DO NOT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION, IT WILL BE AGAINST YOU…. If it is written non-infectious, they will read infectious, you will write non-hazardous - they will read hazardous, you will say lysozyme - they will read anthrax…. And the most terrible thing for you will be if they will apply frontal check, not selection which you may snick, but total check. Just go forward, take another person with you, takes doubles, go to different check-in points, system is working sporadically, increase your chance by multiplication FF Dr Felix Frolow Professor of Structural Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel Acta Crystallographica F, co-editor e-mail: mbfro...@post.tau.ac.ilmailto:mbfro...@post.tau.ac.il Tel: ++972-3640-8723 Fax: ++972-3640-9407 Cellular: 0547 459 608 On Nov 6, 2012, at 22:25 , Jim Pflugrath jim.pflugr...@rigaku.commailto:jim.pflugr...@rigaku.com wrote: I was asked by our shipping folks what we should put on the Customs Declaration so that samples that we ship or that are shipped to us (in dewars, styrofoam boxes, and/or padded envelopes) would not be held up in Customs. I had them put: Scientific samples of less than 1 mg of non-infectious, non-hazardous protein. No health hazard. but it has been so long that I have had to do so. I suppose I could name the exact protein, (e.g. hen egg white lysozyme), but maybe that is not a good idea. What wording do folks put on these forms nowadays? What works? Do I need to put the buffer components? Thanks for responses. Jim - This letter relates to the Dry Shipper being transported by on AIRLINE flight CODE to/from the SYNCHROTRON, COUNTRY from the UNIVERSITY. The package contains frozen protein crystals produced by the INSITUTE as part of a RANDOM INITIATIVE. These non-toxic and non-hazardous proteins were isolated from Escherichia coli using molecular biology recombinant techniques as research samples for structural studies. The samples DO NOT contain any animal or viral products in accordance with NCIE guidelines (reference: GUIDELINES FOR IMPORTATION #1114) and DO NOT have any biological activity. In order to maintain the integrity and scientific value of the samples, they SHOULD NOT be removed from the container or left at room temperature, as this will change the temperature balance in the samples. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the destruction of several months of scientific work. The container has been designed to maintain the samples at low temperature for the duration of the flight
Re: [ccp4bb] What to put on Custom Declaration for shipped samples?
Hi Jim, I remember the same discussion somectime ago on the bb. The consensus was that there is a standard IATA document (IATA special provision A152) for these kinds of shipments, this greatly decreases the risk of destruction of you samples at Customs. See this thread http://www.mail-archive.com/ccp4bb@jiscmail.ac.uk/msg26370.html Flip Op 11/6/2012 21:25, Jim Pflugrath schreef: I was asked by our shipping folks what we should put on the Customs Declaration so that samples that we ship or that are shipped to us (in dewars, styrofoam boxes, and/or padded envelopes) would not be held up in Customs. I had them put: Scientific samples of less than 1 mg of non-infectious, non-hazardous protein. No health hazard. but it has been so long that I have had to do so. I suppose I could name the exact protein, (e.g. hen egg white lysozyme), but maybe that is not a good idea. What wording do folks put on these forms nowadays? What works? Do I need to put the buffer components? Thanks for responses. Jim
[ccp4bb] What to put on Custom Declaration for shipped samples?
I was asked by our shipping folks what we should put on the Customs Declaration so that samples that we ship or that are shipped to us (in dewars, styrofoam boxes, and/or padded envelopes) would not be held up in Customs. I had them put: Scientific samples of less than 1 mg of non-infectious, non-hazardous protein. No health hazard. but it has been so long that I have had to do so. I suppose I could name the exact protein, (e.g. hen egg white lysozyme), but maybe that is not a good idea. What wording do folks put on these forms nowadays? What works? Do I need to put the buffer components? Thanks for responses. Jim
Re: [ccp4bb] What to put on Custom Declaration for shipped samples?
Hi Jim, If there are magic words that always get items through customs, please let me know! In our experience, it is very hard to predict what will or won't be held up. Lucky the vast majority of items go through without an issue. We've had better luck using FedEx instead of TNT shipping although it shouldn't matter. Depending on the country, they may want the origin of the material (synthetic, animal derived, etc.). I would be as complete as possible in your description. I suspect this doesn't apply, but it's sometimes worth dividing samples as larger sizes can be more tightly regulated. Regards, Sean Seaver, PhD P212121 http://store.p212121.com/
Re: [ccp4bb] What to put on Custom Declaration for shipped samples?
Jim, dottore... Starting back traveling to synchrotrons in the beginning of 80 I say, do not volunteer information, more magic words you say, more papers you fetch, more faxes you send in advance more they will torture you. You do not need custom declaration anywhere (at least in Europe), in states I would drive We have send a fax with a full description of Polaroid 3000ASA in 1992 in Heathrow, and they ( security, I was ready to take them apart) burn these sensitive films on the purpose by X-rays on our way to Photon Factory. Many years after that in 2008, one of these people (I have very good memory) again in Heathrow told me - you have two choices - either irradiation or invasive check, and we will not be gentle. I choose irradiation. I will met him next time in a bar or a pub and will take very nice care of him :-) DO NOT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION, IT WILL BE AGAINST YOU…. If it is written non-infectious, they will read infectious, you will write non-hazardous - they will read hazardous, you will say lysozyme - they will read anthrax…. And the most terrible thing for you will be if they will apply frontal check, not selection which you may snick, but total check. Just go forward, take another person with you, takes doubles, go to different check-in points, system is working sporadically, increase your chance by multiplication FF Dr Felix Frolow Professor of Structural Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel Acta Crystallographica F, co-editor e-mail: mbfro...@post.tau.ac.il Tel: ++972-3640-8723 Fax: ++972-3640-9407 Cellular: 0547 459 608 On Nov 6, 2012, at 22:25 , Jim Pflugrath jim.pflugr...@rigaku.com wrote: I was asked by our shipping folks what we should put on the Customs Declaration so that samples that we ship or that are shipped to us (in dewars, styrofoam boxes, and/or padded envelopes) would not be held up in Customs. I had them put: Scientific samples of less than 1 mg of non-infectious, non-hazardous protein. No health hazard. but it has been so long that I have had to do so. I suppose I could name the exact protein, (e.g. hen egg white lysozyme), but maybe that is not a good idea. What wording do folks put on these forms nowadays? What works? Do I need to put the buffer components? Thanks for responses. Jim
