Canadian import laws update

[pbgroupie]

This information was forwarded to me and I thought I'd pass it onto the forum family. It looks like my neighbors to the north are going to crack down on the aquarium imports by the end of this year:

Currently there are no permits or other license requirements with respect to the importation and movement of tropical or ornamental fish species into Canada; however amendments are being made to the Health of Animals regulations that will in the future require all aquatic animals (this includes finfish, molluscs and crustaceans) to have an import permit to enter Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is currently in the process of consulting on the proposed regulatory changes that will be required to establish an import/export program. It is anticipated that these regulations will become law hopefully by the end of 2008.

So at this time ornamental species do not require any permits for importation. Once the CFIA regulatory amendments become law there will be permit requirements. Please note exemptions have been proposed for personal pet fish (limited number) and there is a proposed list of susceptible finfish species which includes tropical and ornamental fishes that will be specifically regulated.

For more information on the aquatic animal health program and to receive advisories and updates, please sign up to the list serve address attached to the signature box. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me directly.

Sincerely

Dr. Joanne Constantine
Veterinary Program Specialist
Import/Export
Aquatic Animal Health Division
8 Colonnade Road
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 0Y9
(613) 221-1469


**For notification of updates to the CFIA NAAHP website, sign up for
the e-mail subscription list at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/too ... shtml?aqua

[RandySr1]

That is just about the same answer I received form them.
So this means we don't need permits, right?

[rpilla001]

This may seem like a nieve reply, but why should Canada care if tropical aquarium species are imported?

Even if introduced into the wild they would freeze to death by October! Or is there a freeze resistant applesnail or beta I am unaware of?

[pbgroupie]

Okay, just to make sure I had the latest, up-to-date information, I contacted the USDA/aphis office on permits by phone. AT THIS TIME there are no US regulations on the export of snails to other countries. However, you need to check with the country you are shipping to. In this case, if it is Canada, you don't need an import permit AT THIS TIME. A word of caution though on making sure you identify the contents of what you are shipping so they don't get held up in customs and sit there until the snails are dead. HTH

[RandySr1]

I received this today after calling regarding the shipments of Apple Snail into Canada.
This cleared everything up for me.


Hello Randy,

CFIA headquarters has confirmed the snail can make entry without an import permit (i.e. no import requirements).

Regards,

John Tyrone Jones, II
Trade Director Forestry Products
USDA;APHIS;PIM
Riverdale, MD
PH: 301-734-8860
Fax: 301-734-7639
-

Hi Tyrone,

Yes, this aquatic snail is approved for entry without a PH import
permit (not regulated by CFIA.)

Wanda

>>> <John.T.Jones@aphis.usda.gov> 2008/04/03 4:16 pm >>>
Hello Wanda,

I received a request from an exporter who wants to send apple snail the

Canada. He stated he sent a request up via the CFIA web page and was
told
the species was okay. I promised to verify from our end. Would you
please ask if Pomacea bridgesii is permitted entry and what if any
requirements must be met. Below is some basic information on the
snail.



Thank you and best regards,


John Tyrone Jones, II
Trade Director Forestry Products
USDA;APHIS;PIM
Riverdale, MD
PH: 301-734-8860
Fax: 301-734-7639

[WeeSnail]

I have been looking through the import laws and came upon this:

Importation of Aquatic Animals

Aquatic Animals not Listed in Schedule III

194. No person shall import an aquatic animal that is not listed in Schedule III unless it is accompanied by a document that is satisfactory to an inspector and that includes the following information:
(a) the name and address of the exporter;
(b) the name and address of the importer;
(c) the taxonomic name of the aquatic animal, the life stage, and the number being imported, if more than one; and
(d) the country in which the aquatic animal was born or where the germplasm came from and, in the case of an aquatic animal, whether it was born in captivity or in the wild.
SOR/2010-296, s. 4.

Ampullariidae, Pilidae, Pomacea are NOT found in Schedule III

Therefore to import apple snails into Canada all that is needed is name and address of importer and exporter and taxonomic name and country of birth!