Shipments From Africa

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So the latest from the CFIA is that all shipments of trophies from Africa are going to have to go through secondary treatment here in Canada. If you have shipments coming in you better make sure you have made arrangements with a certified taxidermist here in Canada for secondary treatment.
 
TJ is this what your referring to or is there another change?
Thats even newer
tom

FROM CFIA
Hello to All,
The Importing Requirements have changed in Canada and we feel it is important that you know the new regulations. In
simple form, Wildlife Trophies that enter Canada after July 22, 2013 must be in a fully Taxidermied state meaning
ready to mount on a wall or fully mounted(no other taxidermy needed.) Any skins, Skulls, Horns etc that are NOT fully taxidermied will have to be sent to a CERTIFIED TAXIDERMIST(CFIA APPROVED) to be fully taxidermied before clearance will be issued. They will be treated like quarantined shipments. If you could please pass this information on to any parties you know will be affected by this change we would greatly appreciate it.

The requirement for all animal tissues to be imported into Canada has been updated to reflect the high-risk nature of this commodity. This requirement for hunting trophy imports will be enforced at Vancouver International Airport beginning July 22, 2013. In the meantime, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be scrutinizing trophy shipments more closely.

The most up-to-date policy is "Importation of Integumentary Tissue", available online:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals...ducts/2001-01/eng/1359039786504/1359039919425

Please forward this information to any interested parties.

Regards,

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Richmond Sub-District Office/
Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments, Bureau de sous-district Richmond
Animal Health/Santé des animaux
Tel: (604) 666-7042
Fax: (604) 666-6027
Plant Health/Santé des végétaux
Tel: (604) 666-7177
Fax: (604) 666-7170
richmond.insp@inspection.gc.ca
 
Ya kind of Tom.....it seems the CFIA changes the way they interpret that every day...the latest as of today is that all African shipments must go to a certified taxidermist here in Canada for an additional 28-day disinfection.
 
TJ, just spoke to the chief vet for the CFIA in Vancouver,Dr. Brar asked for specific about any case where mounted heads required this. Which I couldn't inform him of details.
It is his understanding as per the memo which is posted there is no additional actions for finished skins.
If anyone has mounts or tanned skins refused by a inspector they should speak to supervisors at.
Western Area Inspections
email---- ImportsAHWest (at) inspections.gc.ca
the address apparently case sensitive
He there should be no interpretation practiced other then as per the memo ``the inspector is wrong`` in his words.
I think if there is anyone required to do this there is grounds for an argument.

tom
 
That's my understanding too Tom...what I posted was for untanned hides. Properly dipped and packed hides and heads were previously allowed in without secondary disinfection in Canada providing there was no bugs or tissue...that is no longer the case. Regardless of condition, they will require secondary treatment in Canada. As you say, tanned hides and mounted trophies will be exempt.
 
Ok, Sorry TJ I misunderstood what you said and this is a topic very close to my heart.
I`m tired of the Food inspectors shi77ing on all hunters an there shipments of mounts, saying there looks like bugs (when its sawdust from drilling holes in the crates for seals.)
Just got me going......
I help a lot of people go to South Africa and the inspection of shipments back to the hunters appears to be a favorite target for the inspection agency.
tom
 
Thought I'd bring this back up. Our heads and skins arrived in perfect condition but were still required to go through the 28-day disinfection process here in Canada. All African shipments are now required to. The cost is about $150 per skull/cape plus a charge for the taxidermist to pick them up at airport and for him to dispose of the crate as per CFIA. We also had to use a broker. It added about $2600 to our trip that we didn't count on when we booked it. Not great news but that's the way it is.

The shipment was released after 28 days and I took it to our taxidermist. Hides are now out for tanning.

This does not apply to trophies in a taxidermied state.
 
From what I've heard some taxidermists are really cranking hard to be certified as secondary disinfection facilities. When I was at Rion White's shop this fall he was taking this route. I would guess most of the bigger shops will go this route. It will really take a bite out of the smaller and one man shops. I'd be willing to bet this drives a lot of taxidermy work offshore or South of the border.
 
BigUglyMan said:
From what I've heard some taxidermists are really cranking hard to be certified as secondary disinfection facilities. When I was at Rion White's shop this fall he was taking this route. I would guess most of the bigger shops will go this route. It will really take a bite out of the smaller and one man shops. I'd be willing to bet this drives a lot of taxidermy work offshore or South of the border.
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It encourages guys to get it done in Africa for sure. There is no need for a CFIA taxidermist to do the actual taxidermy but I suspect it would save you some money if you left it with them rather than just paying for the disinfection and taking the work to another taxidermist. It definitely puts the non certified guys at a disadvantage. Stupid thing is, there is no need for the secondary disinfection in 99% of cases.
 
We at SCI-Canada have been following this very closely. First CFIA and Minister Ritz's has assured us nothing has changed with regarding to importation of hides and skulls. However they have put some protocols in place if the inspector question's anything with the shipment. With that being said it would appear that the Inspector in Alberta is sending everything for secondary disinfection which is costing on average an additional $1500. We have set up a committee at SCI with a number of taxidermists and logistics companies to work on this issue as other ports of entry don't seem to be getting this same treatment.
Hopefully we can get some resolve soon.
 
The CFIA inspectors aren't even looking at crates any more...they automatically go to secondary treatment. Minister Ritz is full of crap....things have changed a lot since our last African shipment. Glad to see SCI on top of this! Cost is really dependant on number of animals but basically it's $150 per skull/cape here in Calgary plus some charges for the taxidermist picking up the shipment and disposing of the crate. While not required by law, it pretty well forces you into using a broker as well. Interestingly, CBSA now seems to be using a set formula for calculating GST on trophy value regardless of what you actually paid. GST used to be kind of hit and miss but this new formula undoubtedly results in hunters paying more as well.
 
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I am at a loss for words. I own NorthVelt Taxidermy with studios in both High Level and Slave Lake, I am now forced to have my clients send there unfinished products to an approved facility here in Alberta. Being a smaller studio, the government will not even look at me to become an approved facility. Yes this is costing my clients a lot of money, please do not get me wrong, but SCI in my very humble opinion could have been a lot more vocal about this. The govt just kind of slipped this one through and with out any recourse. For some, this added expence will curtail the hunt which is very sad. What is really bothering is the re ship and dip is not a complicated process but the cost is rediculous, about 150 per animal, plus pick up charges, plus crate destruction, plus recrating for some folks. African taxidermy is about 40% of my business and am seriously considering shutting the doors. For the rich or people who have there hunts funded by sponsors this is just a blip, but I deal with working folk and its very hard to tell a client your bill just went up by a thousand to two thousand dollars. I aplogize for the harsh tone, but I am truely frustrated with no where to turn. Good luck and hunt safe.

NorthVelt Taxidermy & Aviation Services
 
I'd say it's a big deal for everyone regardless of their financial situation...more government BS aimed at reducing hunting. No question there is an anti hunting agenda at work here. There has never been a major tissue issue with African skins and heads. That's why they are processed before being allowed out of Africa. I agree that the treatment process is not complicated but you can't blame the guys doing for wanting to get paid for the work the government is forcing them to do. Work that involves complying with some very labour intensive federal regulations. It's not simple to be certified or to keep that certification. It's important to keep our eye on the real villain here. I feel bad for your situation...I suspect many others are in the same boat. I'd be contacting your MP....I know I've contacted mine.
 
I went to SA last winter to visit family and managed to squeeze in a short hunt. So far the cost to ship the cape, skulls and horns from a Kudu, Blesbok and Impala ( I had a second Blesbok done as a Euro and flat tan) has far far exceeded the cost of the hunt itself. It cost $800 in SA to dip and dry the hides, prepare the skulls and do the appropriate paper work. Over $1200 to ship the crate here and then to find out they were holding my crate at the Airport in Calgary. Nearly four months later and CFIA and CBSA FINALLY released my crate but I was paying storage fees the entire time. That cost another $1500. As of today my crate is at a taxidermist in Alberta ( not my taxidermist of choice as I couldn't afford to ship the required steel container to Regina) awaiting to be disinfected. I had no idea of the costs and additional associated fees until I read this thread and my trophy's are still not in the hands of "my" taxidermist.

Sadly if I ever go back to SA my trophy's will be Euro mounts and maybe a flat rug or two. Personally I did not care for the quality of taxidermy there and there is no way I will go through this again to have my animals mounted here. I feel sorry for our taxidermists but this is just too costly for most of us.
 
mossyhorns said:
I went to SA last winter to visit family and managed to squeeze in a short hunt. So far the cost to ship the cape, skulls and horns from a Kudu, Blesbok and Impala ( I had a second Blesbok done as a Euro and flat tan) has far far exceeded the cost of the hunt itself. It cost $800 in SA to dip and dry the hides, prepare the skulls and do the appropriate paper work. Over $1200 to ship the crate here and then to find out they were holding my crate at the Airport in Calgary. Nearly four months later and CFIA and CBSA FINALLY released my crate but I was paying storage fees the entire time. That cost another $1500. As of today my crate is at a taxidermist in Alberta ( not my taxidermist of choice as I couldn't afford to ship the required steel container to Regina) awaiting to be disinfected. I had no idea of the costs and additional associated fees until I read this thread and my trophy's are still not in the hands of "my" taxidermist.

Sadly if I ever go back to SA my trophy's will be Euro mounts and maybe a flat rug or two. Personally I did not care for the quality of taxidermy there and there is no way I will go through this again to have my animals mounted here. I feel sorry for our taxidermists but this is just too costly for most of us.
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Additional costs are one of the major factors that deters people from hunting there, it's difficult to budget for an African hunt. Charter flights, dipping, packing, crating, airport transfers, tips to everyone from the guy raking sand at night to the half dozen trackers, game scouts, etc. The list is endless. While the initial price seems low, by the time everything is said and done, a $4000 plains game hunt has turned into a $10,000+ ordeal when your trophies are finally hanging at home 2 years later.

This latest cash grab just adds to the final bill and wait times.
 
Forgive the ignorance but I'm wondering why folks don't get their mounts done in Africa in this case. Is it more expensive to do there? I would have expected with labour prices as they are their prices would be good.

Sorry if the answer is obvious. Not a subject I know anything about so I'm just wondering.
 
Taxidermy is much cheaper over there...the added shipping to get the large pieces home does increase the cost but it's still often cheaper, especially with this new CFIA crap. The biggest reason for us is quality. I haven't seen much good work over there (no doubt there is some) and I've heard some real horror stories about mounts. Taxidermy is our memories...I want those memories honoured well. I'm confident our taxidermist will do that. I have to look at these for the rest of my life.
 
canoetrpr said:
Forgive the ignorance but I'm wondering why folks don't get their mounts done in Africa in this case. Is it more expensive to do there? I would have expected with labour prices as they are their prices would be good.

Sorry if the answer is obvious. Not a subject I know anything about so I'm just wondering.
Click to expand...

For me personally, I didn't see any taxidermy work there that even came close to being in the same league as my taxidermist here in Canada. I'm sure there are good ones there, I just never saw one. The cost of shipping mounted trophy's over would also be higher but in hind site maybe cheaper in the long run.

Holding the crate here and then having them disinfected was a cost I did not plan for. This wasn't being " enforced" when I left and started between the time I left for the hunt and my crate arrived.
 
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