Important Note for Shipments to the United States of America
(Revised Information – 15 March 2011)
The United States of America (the US) requires that shipments with CITES
documents destined for the US must be validated by the Australian Customs and
Border Protection Service (Customs and Border Protection) prior to export. Some
unvalidated shipments have been seized and forfeited in the US.
Please read this information carefully before exporting CITES specimens to the US.
1. EXPORT DECLARATIONS
Firstly, as with all exports, exporters must lodge an Export Declaration with Customs
and Border Protection. This should be done prior to presenting your CITES permit for
validation. The Export Declaration must indicate the actual total quantity of
specimens being shipped. It is also preferable that the line information on the permit is
replicated in the Export Declaration lines, to provide a listing of the actual quantity of
each species (noting that quantities may not exceed those on the permit). CITES
documents can only be validated by Customs and Border Protection once an Export
Declaration has been lodged and an Export Declaration Number (EDN) issued.
Irrespective of their value, when exporting goods requiring a permit, an export
declaration must be lodged with Customs and Border Protection.
For information on lodging Export Declarations in the Customs and Border Protection
Integrated Cargo System go to www.customs.gov.au then click on Cargo Support.
Customs and Border Protection Cargo Support contact details are
cargosupport@customs.gov.au or 1300 558 099.
2. CITES PERMITS
The process for validation is slightly different depending on whether you hold a single
use or multiple use permit.
SINGLE USE CITES PERMIT
Attachment ‘A’ contains an example of a completed CITES Single Use Permit.
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The exporter or agent must write on the original CITES Single Use Permit, next to each line
item, the actual quantity of specimens being shipped. The actual quantity of specimens
shipped must be equal to or less than the amount specified on the permit. The overall total
number of specimens must also be written on the permit.
The original CITES Single Use Permit should be presented by the exporter or agent to a
Customs officer.
The Customs officer will view the export declaration to ensure the total quantity of
specimens being declared for export matches, and is equal to or less than the quantity
specified on the permit.
The Customs officer will then stamp, ,sign and endorse the total quantity on the CITES
Single Use Permit.
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Exporters must ensure the original validated CITES document is sent with the shipment.
Failure to send the original CITES document, or failure to obtain validation prior to
export may result in the seizure and forfeit of the shipment when it reaches the US.
If the actual quantity shipped does not match the quantity indicated on the CITES document,
the shipment may be seized and forfeited in the US.
MULTIPLE USE CITES PERMIT
Attachment ‘B’ 1 & 2 of 3 are a Multiple Use CITES Permit
Attachment ‘B’ 3 of 3 is a Specimen Export Record (SER)
1. The exporter or agent must write on the Specimen Export record (SER) next to each line item,
the actual quantity of specimens being shipped. The actual quantity of specimens shipped
must be equal to or less than the amount specified on the multiple use permit (if an amount is
specified on the permit). The overall total number of specimens must also be written on the
permit.
2. A copy of the CITES Multiple Use Permit and a completed SPECIMEN EXPORT
RECORD (SER) should be presented by the exporter or agent to a Customs officer
3. The Customs officer will view the export declaration to ensure the total quantity of
specimens being declared for export matches the quantity on the SER. Although CITES
Multiple Use Permits do not usually specify a quantity, where a quantity is specified on the
permit, the SER must not exceed that quantity.
4. The Customs officer will stamp, sign and endorse the total quantity on the SER.
5. Exporters must ensure the original validated CITES SER document and a copy of the
CITES permit is sent with the shipment.
Failure to send the correct documents, or failure to obtain validation prior to export
may result in the seizure and forfeit of the shipment when it reaches the US.
6. If the actual quantity shipped does not match the quantity indicated on the CITES SER
document, the shipment may be seized and forfeited in the US.
For the most part, validation can be undertaken by Customs and Border Protection
Clearing Officers at each major airport or District Office during normal business
hours. It is strongly recommended that you have your CITES document validated at a
District Office during normal business hours.
Should you require validation outside of normal business hours, opening times for
Customs and Border Protection offices at major airports are listed below. Please note
that you cannot make an appointment at Customs and Border Protection airport front
counters. It is possible that it may take some time to complete the validation process;
therefore it is important that you allow sufficient time for this process.
Brisbane Airport - Customs and Border Protection Clearing Office available each
day from 5am - 1.30pm at the Customs front counter.
Cairns Airport - General Customs Staff available 4am-8.30pm (Mon, Tues, Wed and
Sat), 4am-10.30pm (Fri), and 4am-12.30am (Sun) at the Customs Front Counter.
Darwin Airport - General Customs staff available 24hrs, 7 days per week at the
Customs Front Counter.
Gold Coast Airport - General Customs staff available 6.30am-6.30pm, 7 days per
week, but times are determined by flight schedules and subject to change.
Melbourne Airport - Clearance desk staffed 24hrs, 7 days per week.
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Perth Airport - General Customs staff available 24hrs, 7 days per week at the
Customs Front Counter.
Sydney Airport - General Customs staff are available 6am-10pm, 7 days per week at
the Customs Front Counter.
It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the export documentation complies
with all US importing requirements. In particular, it is the exporter's responsibility to
ensure that all required endorsements have been obtained and made in accordance
with those requirements, prior to the export of the goods. Whilst the primary focus of
Customs and Border Protection officers in relation to the export of goods is
Australia's export requirements rather than the importing requirements of other
countries, they are available to validate CITES documentation in order for exporters
to comply with the US import requirements. However, Customs and Border
Protection is not responsible if an exporter fails to obtain the necessary endorsements
and does not accept any liability for any loss that may result from the rejection of
CITES documentation by an overseas administration.
If you have any queries, please contact the Wildlife Trade Regulation Section at the
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
(DSEWPAC) by phone on (02) 6274 1900 (option ‘6’), or email
wildlifetrade@environment.gov.au
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