Hey,
I'm looking to transport fixed specimens from Virginia to Halifax N.S. They would be fixed in a 40% formalin solution or alcohol solution. I've been searching around for some info on the required permits and licenses but so far it have remained elusive... Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Shackles

Hey,
I'm looking to transport fixed specimens from Virginia to Halifax N.S. They would be fixed in a 40% formalin solution or alcohol solution. I've been searching around for some info on the required permits and licenses but so far it have remained elusive... Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Shackles

That could be tough since both formalin & alcohol are considered hazardous to ship. You might want to drain the containers and seal them well before shipping. I had a friend that tried to take formalin to South America and the bottle broke in the baggage compartment. They had to evacuate the entire plane and decontaminate it. He had to take out a second mortgauge to pay all the fines and expenses. I know that you can be fined up to $250,000.00 and face imprisionment for shipping materials like the ones in question by mail. You are also responsible for any clean up, damages and decontamination. I would check with the shippers rather than chance taking any advice here.

I believe up to 1 L of alcohol, or slighly less (?), can be shipped without declaration of hazardous materials. I've overnighted ethanol fixed specimens in the past by wrapping them in a couple layers of cheese cloth soaked ethanol and double bagging them in zip lock. The specimens were well padded and shipped in a smaller cooler that was heavily taped.

That could be tough since both formalin & alcohol are considered hazardous to ship. You might want to drain the containers and seal them well before shipping. I had a friend that tried to take formalin to South America and the bottle broke in the baggage compartment. They had to evacuate the entire plane and decontaminate it. He had to take out a second mortgauge to pay all the fines and expenses. I know that you can be fined up to $250,000.00 and face imprisionment for shipping materials like the ones in question by mail. You are also responsible for any clean up, damages and decontamination. I would check with the shippers rather than chance taking any advice here.

Ouch that is horrible, I guess I should also have mentioned that I will most likely be transporting them myself by car.

If this is for scientific or educational purposes, a permit is required. If it is for private use at home, then only a fishing license is needed.

http://www.dgif.virg...rmits/guide.asp

Oh well if you are driving them I would preserve them and empty the liquid and package them like ashtonmj mentioned. Remember they are for private use, just make sure you have the proper fishing licenses. Yes it was not a good situation for my friend, he was arrested on the spot and there were passengers cussing him calling him names and some even spit on him. I think a few even tried to sue him for ruining their vacations.

Cool.
Thanks for the info.

More than a scientific collecting permit is required (and if you're fixing specimens in formalin or alcohol, it's pretty clear you're not just getting them for use at home).

I'm more familiar with the process for importing <into> the US, and that's not as easy as suggested. To transport animal specimens from Canada (or other countries) into the US requires a permit from the US Fish & Wildlife Service. They now require a 3-177 even for sending loans of museum specimens. They've streamlined this process somewhat and you can submit applications and forms online now, but for wild-caught specimens it still involves having copies of all collecting permits and other documentation, as well as an export permit if they're from a foreign country. Canada has a similar process, but I'm not as familiar sending specimens in that direction. You might want to directly contact the Canadian Wildlife Service and ask them what's required for an import permit. I've appended contact info below:

Management Authority
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Email: cites-science@ec.gc.ca
Phone: 1-800-668-6767
Fax: (819) 953-6283

Even though what you're transporting is likely not CITES listed (right?), they should be able to help figure out what you need to stay legal. Not declaring specimens could result in fines, confiscation of the specimens, possible incarceration, etc. It's not worth risking it over a couple of fish.

If you fly or have the specimens shipped, you'll probably want to drain off the formalin and dispose of it properly, wash the specimens in several changes of water for a couple of days or until there's no detectable odor. Wrap in water-moistened cheesecloth, double bag in heavy-duty plastic bags, then place that package in a separate securely-sealed bag filled with enough vermiculite (kitty litter works OK) to absorb any leaking fluid. You may need to pad spines with cotton to keep them from puncturing the bags. Label as "Hazardous materials (Formalin) in excepted quantities," and you should be able to transport or ship with no problems. Transfer the specimens to alcohol as soon as they arrive. If you drive, I would drain off the formalin, rinse well, and transport them in water (fill the container to the top to reduce movement in the vehicle and possible damage to fins).

Also, why are you preserving specimens in 40% formalin? Seems like they'd get extremely brittle -- a 10% solution works better most of the time.

Hope this helps.

Daveneely thanks for the info. The specimens are for my home (I'm just neurotic and like to have the best possible). None of the species are on the CITES list and I will make sure to contact the Canadian Wildlife Service. I will give the 10% Formalin solution a try. Thanks for the info.