YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSSS

[natrat84]

I've had some success (I think) from customs, your going to be proud of me ;D This is the reply I have just recieved.

Dear Ms Vincent

Thank you for your e-mail enquiry dated 04 August 2005.

I'm glad that you contacted DEFRA and CEFAS first because they actually
control the import of animals and crustaceans into the UK and I would have
had to direct you to contact them if you hadn't already done so.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that H M Customs do not impose
any prohibition or restrictions on the import of snails either! If the
snails are coming from other EU Countries then there are no formalities to
complete and they don't have to be declared to Customs. However, if they are
coming from non EU countries although they are FREE from Customs (Import)
Duty, there will be import VAT to pay at the standard rate of 17.5%. The VAT
will be charged on price paid for the snails plus any additional costs
incurred in getting them to the UK destination.

I hope you find this information helpful and that you manage to obtain many
unusual species of snail.

Yours sincerely
M E Anderson (Mrs)
Officer of HM Revenue & Customs

So there we go ;D

[anjieburdett]

OH WOW!!! Thats brilliant nat. SOOOO PROUD OF YOU GIRLIE. rofl

Anjie,x.

[Kevin]

Thats great news ;D

..Shame about the import VAT, but thats fine if it means its ok to import snails from outside of Europe ;D

No more worrying about getting snails (and slugs) from Canada, and maybe some other places

[ceiron]

import duty they abolished recently

was costing them more in enforcing it then they were making.lol

but good news, well done nat

[Paul]

Kev, It isn't that simple, read through:

snails2die4.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1114409917

How do you obtain a certificate of health, when such certificates are unobtainable for inverts!?

[Kevin]

admin said:

Kev, It isn't that simple, read through:

snails2die4.proboards31.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1114409917

How do you obtain a certificate of health, when such certificates are unobtainable for inverts!?

It looks a lot more complicated than I had thought...

[natrat84]

So is my email completely useless?

[ceiron]

natrat84 said:

So is my email completely useless?

nope, its highly useful, it means theres one area, ie customs that can be ignored, if you dont even ahve to declare them then whos going to know you have them ?

[Paul]

I'd be very careful about that. One of the reasons I started this search for the exact regulations is because I'd heard numerous reports about Customs seizing what should be legal snails. I would view customs as the opposite. They are the main problem, and a law unto themselves. Linda and Daz were repeatedly told by customs that any inverts would be destroyed when found.

The point is that by getting this in writing we will have a set of documents to include in snail packages that should hopefully spell it out for even the most ignorant customs officer.

Nat, thanks for doing that, now we know customs position, I will write a full letter to each agency asking them to put it explicity in writing for us.

[ceiron]

i cant see how, i know loads of people that go abroad and brign abck animals from europe inc inverts with no problems what so ever, so cant see how its much diff in this instance.

[Kevin]

admin said:

I'd be very careful about that. One of the reasons I started this search for the exact regulations is because I'd heard numerous reports about Customs seizing what should be legal snails. I would view customs as the opposite. They are the main problem, and a law unto themselves. Linda and Daz were repeatedly told by customs that any inverts would be destroyed when found.

The point is that by getting this in writing we will have a set of documents to include in snail packages that should hopefully spell it out for even the most ignorant customs officer.

Nat, thanks for doing that, now we know customs position, I will write a full letter to each agency asking them to put it explicity in writing for us.

Thats a great idea, they wont be able to conviscate them then, if the documents from customs were included with the snails would they?

[Paul]

I think the problem here is non-EU. Also, I never did find out what that haul of tiger snails were destroyed for...they never got back to me.

I think most people in the EU have no problems, but I'm just saying that, on the ground, the officers are known to destroy them first, ask questions later. Also, it is worth remembering that Customs have absolute power in this respect, no appeals, compensation - nothing. They aren't even required to explain why they did it.

So, I'm just advocating caution....

[natrat84]

Paul,
Do you want me to ask the woman that emailed me to put it in writing for us? It took them ages to reply, but now she has, I have a direct address Upto you, if so, what exactly am I asking for?
Nat

[anjieburdett]

admin said:

I think the problem here is non-EU. Also, I never did find out what that haul of tiger snails were destroyed for...they never got back to me.

I think most people in the EU have no problems, but I'm just saying that, on the ground, the officers are known to destroy them first, ask questions later. Also, it is worth remembering that Customs have absolute power in this respect, no appeals, compensation - nothing. They aren't even required to explain why they did it.

So, I'm just advocating caution....

What Tigers Paul, Huh? What? Have i missed something? Did customs destroy Tigers?

Anjie,x.

[Paul]

Nat, there's no need because I'm not sure what exactly I want them to write.

Anjie, someone mentioned trying to get some tigers that were earmarked for being destroyed by customs and I read on the news somewhere that African snails brought in illegally (??) were destroyed.

[fatslug]

I've had stick insects and cockroaches sent to me from Canada and the US with no problems. They were marked as "live entomological specimens for scientific study", and came by post. Do you think customs even saw them?

[Deleted]

they probly think theyre for food and/or might have parasites. i doubt the customs people would think 'oh, they're probably pets'

kind regards

mike

[Paul]

Yes, I know for certain that the regulations from DEFRA, CEFAS and customs are all related to imports for non-consumption. It's even harder for bringing them in for food, and I wondered if the destroyed ones in question were victims of this. It would be nice to arrange something with customs as an alternative. If they knew they'd be rehomed as pets perhaps they'll give us any they seize.

[anjieburdett]

oh right......i heard about the tortoise one - disgusting!!