Do you understand?

For those who think export licensing only covers arms and ammunition – you need to broaden your horizons.  The laws have been widened.   For example offering to translate or provide a translation of a technical manual could be covered by export licensing laws even if this is done by email or over the internet.    It needn’t be as obvious as translating a ‘How to make a better bomb’ manual it could be something as simple as translating a technical manual for an obscure device.   It is not just the subject of the translation but the country and individual for whom you are making the translation.
 

Don’t get caught out!

www.morley-consulting.co.uk

Caviar and orchids

It seems Christmas is the time of year for CITES violations to come to light.  It is now the turn of caviar some of which is covered by the CITES convention.   However, it was not discovered ready to eat – it was found in face cream!   

And the rare orchid?   No, not for exotic flower arranging but an ingredient in bodybuilding supplements. 

 All intercepted and seized by HMRC (UK Customs) on the way into the UK.

 

 

 

www.morley-consulting.co.uk

 

Christmas conundrum

The festive season is almost upon us but of course for retailers it has been in full swing for some time as they bring in their stock ready for the Christmas rush.

It brings with it some rather tricky challenges.   In the UK one of the iconic Christmas items is a Christmas cracker.    A creation of paper, cardboard and ribbon containing a paper hat, a joke and some kind of small gift.   There are two major problems with this.   

The first is that a cracker is also a type of savoury biscuit.   When sending these items to the USA, the American customs authorities wanted to know the ingredients………..

Then of course, there is the chief issue – the crackers also contain what is called a ‘snap’.  This is so that when they are ‘pulled’ – the centre containing the gift comes apart with a bang.   The snap is a strip of cardboard with a small amount of explosive (yes explosive!!) on the middle.      

These are shipped all over the world by airfreight as IATA have designated them acceptable for airfreight so long as they are packed appropriately.   But beware some courier companies still regard them as hazardous and if they will accept them at all they restrict the quantity to about six crackers at a time.

So not only is the name a problem all over the world but you are shipping explosives too!

Happy shipping.

www.morley-consulting.co.uk

Forbidden cargo

I note today that the US Government has just crushed around six tons of ivory (tusks, jewellery etc.) that it confiscated at ports and airports in the USA as people tried and thankfully failed to make illegal imports.   Ivory is on the Annex A list of products / raw materials under the CITES convention – forbidden to ship.   The American Government feels that destroying the confiscated ivory – putting it beyond use – is the best way to deter the smugglers and poachers.   Other countries are holding large stockpiles of confiscated ivory with mixed views on what is best to do with it.    

 

The rules on the international movement of ivory are very strict, even as personal possessions so take care if you want to keep your possessions.

www.morley-consulting.co.uk