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Export Certification of Furs and Game Trophies to the European Union

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TAHD-DSAT-IE-2011-1-2
February 12, 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this document is as follows:

  1. to explain the European Union (EU) import requirements for game trophies and furs; and
  2. to enable Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) personnel to achieve consistency in export certification.

This document covers the following:

  1. treated game trophies of birds and ungulates, being solely bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers, teeth, hides, or skins;
  2. game trophies of birds and ungulates, consisting of untreated whole anatomical parts;
  3. game trophies from birds and ungulates that have undergone a complete taxidermy treatment to ensure their preservation at ambient temperature;
  4. game trophies from species other than birds and ungulates that have or have not undergone a complete taxidermy treatment to ensure their preservation at ambient temperature;
  5. furs from species hunted in the wild (e.g. bear, raccoon); and
  6. furs from raised wild species (e.g. mink).

This document does not cover hides and skins of raised animals exported for technical use to a tannery in Europe (HA2001) or for gelatine production (HA2380 and HA2816).

Background

Regulations (EC) No. 1069/2009 and (EU) No. 142/2011 establish the requirements for the importation into the EU of game trophies of birds and ungulates that have not undergone a complete taxidermy treatment.

Game trophies of species other than ungulates or birds that have or have not undergone a complete taxidermy treatment, as well as game trophies of birds and ungulates having undergone a complete taxidermy treatment, ensuring their preservation at ambient temperature, are not regulated under (ECNo. 1069/2009 and (EUNo. 142/2011. The exporter must ensure that the product meets the requirement of the European Member State to which the product is exported.

Definitions

"Taxidermy" is defined as is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display.

"Complete taxidermy treatment" comprises the four following steps:

  1. skinning – removing the skin (being careful to keep it intact) and as much flesh as possible, as well as part or all of the skeleton;
  2. tanning the skin to soften it for mounting and to chemically protect it to make it impervious to decay;
  3. creating the mannequin – a structure serving as a form (in wood, metal or plastic) to replace the flesh and muscles; and
  4. mounting the skin on the mannequin to recreate the original appearance of the animal.

A "game trophy" is a mounted or dried part of a hunted and killed animal (e.g. deer antlers, skullcap, skull, head or the entire body of an animal, mounted on a pedestal or as a wall hanging).

"Fur" means the pelt (skin with the fur intact) of a wild animal (e.g. bear) or a wild animal raised in captivity (e.g. mink).

Export certification for treated game trophies of birds and ungulates, being solely bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers, teeth, hides, or skins

The import requirements are set out in Chapter 6 (A) – Health Certificate of Annex X of regulations (EC) No. 1069/2009 and (EU) No. 142/2011 (HA2058). It is a requirement of the EU that the CFIA has to register the plant where the game trophies are treated.

Export certification for untreated game trophies of birds and ungulates consisting of entire parts

The import requirements are outlined in Chapter 6 (B) – Health Certificate of Annex X of regulations (EC) No. 1069/2009 and (EU) No. 142/2011 (HA2059). It is an EU requirement that the CFIA has to register the plant where the game trophies are collected or handled, or from which they are exported.

Export certification

For the following products:

The following outlines the import requirements of the EU Member States, as well as other European countries that are non-members of the EU. It is recommended that a taxidermy certificate accompany game trophies that have undergone a complete taxidermy treatment.

Note: It is the exporter's responsibility to verify with importers the validity of the import conditions, the necessity of an import permit, and whether the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) certification is required.

Import Requirements for EU Member States and Non-Members

Game trophies from birds and ungulates that have undergone a complete taxidermy treatment

Austria: No animal health certification is required, but a CITES certificate is required.

Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom: No animal health certification is required.

Finland: The authorities assess the import conditions on a case-by-case basis.

France: No animal health certification is required. This does not negate the requirements that other ministries may have.

Greece: No animal health certification is required. No CITES certificate is required.

Italy: No animal health certification is required. Nevertheless, the trophies must be accompanied by a document identifying them.

Poland: No animal health certification is required. However exporters must request a CITES permit issued by The Ministry of Environment to import trophies of endangered species.

San Marino Republic: The veterinary authority in Italy suggests contacting the Republic of San Marino directly to obtain information, but affirms that San Marino applies the EU regulation.

Switzerland: No animal health certification is required for the importation of game trophies of ungulates and birds having undergone a complete taxidermy treatment. A commercial document is required, just for the Customs, to ensure that the game trophies have undergone a complete taxidermy treatment.

Game trophies from species other than birds and ungulates that have or have not undergone a complete taxidermy treatment

Austria: No animal health certification is required, but a CITES certificate is required.

Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Portugal: No animal health certification is required.

Finland: The authorities assess the import conditions on a case-by-case basis.

France: No animal health certification is required. This does not negate the requirements that other ministries may have.

Greece: No animal health certification is required. No CITES certificate is required.

Hungary: A sanitary certification is required (HA2689).

Italy: No animal health certification is required. Nevertheless, the trophies must be accompanied by a document identifying them.

Poland: No animal health certification is required. However exporters must request a CITES permit issued by The Ministry of Environment to import trophies of endangered species.

San Marino Republic: The veterinary authority in Italy suggests contacting the Republic of San Marino directly to obtain information, but affirms that San Marino applies the EU regulation.

Spain: No animal health certification is required if game trophies have undergone complete taxidermy treatment. However:

  1. The importation of hunting trophies made up of untreated whole anatomical parts is prohibited for animal health reasons.
  2. The importation of hunting trophies comprised solely of bones, horn, hooves, claws, antlers, or teeth must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate (HA2734).
  3. Hunting trophies made up of skins must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate (HA2734).

Switzerland: No animal health certification is required for the importation of hides and game trophies of species (other than ungulates or birds), but a commercial document that informs about the treatment of the hides or trophies is required. Complete taxidermy treatment (game trophies) or complete treated hide (wet blue, tanning, pickled pelts, limed hides [treated with lime and in brine at a pH of 12 to 13 for at least 8 hours]) do not require a border veterinary check. The Federal Veterinary Office provides the veterinary rules to import and transit animal by-products, so please check whether an import permit is required.

United Kingdom: Import permit must be requested from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA]).

Furs of animals hunted in the wild

Austria: No animal health certification is required, but a CITES certificate is required.

Belgium: A sanitary certification is required (HA2273).

Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Portugal: No animal health certification is required.

Finland: The authorities assess the import conditions on a case-by-case basis.

France: No animal health certification is required. This does not negate the requirements that other ministries may have.

Germany: For import of furs (other than game trophies), an import permit issued by the competent Ministry of the Land for the entry Border Inspection Post is required.

Greece: No animal health certification is required. No CITES certificate is required.

Hungary: A sanitary certification is required (HA2689).

Italy: No animal health certification is required. Nevertheless, the trophies must be accompanied by a document identifying them.

Poland: No animal health certification is required. However exporters must request a CITES permit issued by The Ministry of Environment to import trophies of endangered species.

San Marino Republic: The veterinary authority in Italy suggests contacting the Republic of San Marino directly to obtain information, but affirms that San Marino applies the EU regulation.

Spain: No animal health certification is required. However:

  1. Hunting trophies made up of skins must be accompanied by a sanitary certificate (HA2734).

Switzerland: No animal health certification is required for the importation of hides and game trophies of species (other than ungulates or birds), but a commercial document that informs about the treatment of the hides or trophies is required. Complete taxidermy treatment (game trophies) or complete treated hide (wet blue, tanning, pickled pelts, limed hides [treated with lime and in brine at a pH of 12 to 13 for at least 8 hours]) do not require a border veterinary check. The Federal Veterinary Office provides the veterinary rules to import and transit animal by-products, so please check whether an import permit is required.

United Kingdom: Import permit must be requested from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA]).

Export certification for furs of wild animals raised in captivity (e.g. mink)

The import requirements are outlined in Chapter 8 — Health Certificate of Annex X of regulations (EC) No. 1069/2009 and (EUNo. 142/2011 (HA2113). The EU requests that the CFIA approve the plant that treats the furs.

Third countries from which Member States may authorize imports of game trophies (Health Certificate chapters 6[A] HA2058 and 6[B] HA2059)

  1. For treated game trophies of birds and ungulates, being solely bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers, teeth, hides or skins, any third country.
  2. For game trophies of birds, consisting of entire parts not having been treated, third countries as listed in the Annex to Commission Decision 94/85/EC, from which Member States authorize imports of fresh poultry meat; and the following countries:
    • Greenland; and
    • Tunisia.
  3. For game trophies of ungulates, consisting of entire parts not having been treated, third countries as listed in the appropriate columns for fresh meat of ungulates in part 1 of Annex II to Decision 79/542/EEC, taking into account any restrictions laid down in the column of special remarks regarding fresh meat.
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