Bulletin

Requirements for Exporting Commercial Fur Shipments from Alaska to Canada

For further information, including forms and permit and license applications, please call:
Anchorage 907/271 6198
Fairbanks 907/456 0255

ATTENTION: ALASKAN TRAPPERS, FUR BUYERS, AND OTHER FUR EXPORTERS

Before you export furs to Canada for commercial purposes, you must:

1. File a declaration form (via e-Dec by accessing https://edecs.fws.gov, fax, or mail) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service);
2. Possess a Service Import/Export License; and
3. If applicable, possess a Service Designated Port Exception Permit and/or a Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) permit.

The above requirements apply to all commercial fur exports, regardless of the method of shipping (mail, express carrier, air cargo, or via personal vehicle).
You will not be required to pay an administrative charge, provided your shipment contains 100 or fewer skins, hides, or parts from furbearers*, and/or contains CITES listed species.
* Under Alaska State law, a furbearer is any beaver, coyote, arctic fox, red fox, lynx, marten, mink, weasel, muskrat, land otter, red squirrel, flying squirrel, ground squirrel, marmot, wolf, or wolverine. Although not native to Alaska, bobcat are also exported by Alaska furriers and have therefore been added to this list.

If you export furs without declaring your shipment or without obtaining the required documents described below, you may be charged with violating Federal law. Your fur shipment may also be seized by authorities in the U.S. or Canada.

The following is the Service's current schedule for license and permit fees and administrative charges for commercial fur shipments exported to Canada:

* CITES species commonly taken by Alaskan trappers are lynx, wolf, and land otter. Although not native to Alaska, bobcat are also exported by Alaska furriers.
If your shipment contains more than 100 skins, hides, or parts from furbearers and/or contains CITES listed species, you must also pay one of the following administrative charges:

1. Shipment contains CITES species, non-CITES species, or both exported, from Anchorage (Designated Port) $55
2. Shipment contains CITES species, exported from all ports (non-Designated), except Anchorage $95
3. Shipment does not contain CITES species and is exported from Alcan, Fairbanks, and Juneau. $55
4. Shipment does not contain CITES species and is exported from ports other than Alcan, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. $95

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QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND EXAMPLES:

The questions and answers below will help you to understand what is required to export furs from Alaska to Canada:
1. Am I required to declare all shipments of furs before they are exported?
Yes. You must file a Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Service Form 3-177) with us before exporting any furs. The declaration can be filed either electronically (e-Dec filing system by accessing http://edecs.fws.gov), fax, or mail. Note: If filing electronically, the document package must be mailed to the Anchorage Import/Export office.
2. Am I required to have a license?
Yes. You must have a Service Import/Export license before exporting furs for commercial purposes. The cost of the Import/Export license is $100.00, and it is valid for one year.
3. I have heard that special permits are required to export furs of "CITES species". What are CITES species and what permits do I need to export them?
"CITES species" are any species designated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species as requiring permits to enter international trade. Alaska's CITES fur species include lynx, wolf, and river otter. Alaska furriers also export bobcat, a CITES species not native to Alaska.
In addition to an Import/Export license, you will need two Service permits to export furs of CITES species:

1. First, you will need a CITES Export Permit each time you want to export furs containing CITES species. You must have the CITES permit validated by Service officials before exporting the furs. The permit must either accompany the shipment or be available to Customs officials at the time of import.
2. Shipping furs from any port, other than Anchorage (Designated Port), will require that you obtain a Designated Port Exception Permit from the Service. This permit allows you to import or export wildlife from specific non-designated ports (any location other than Anchorage) in Alaska.

4. Am I required to have permits for exporting non-CITES species?
If the shipment does not contain CITES species and is exported from Alcan, Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau, no permit is required. However, if the shipment is to be exported from any other location, you must first obtain a Designated Port Exception Permit from the Service.
Designated Port Exception Permit cost: $100.00 Valid for up to two years
5. Am I required to pay other fees?
Only for large shipments and shipments containing CITES species.   Administrative charges apply only if your shipment contains more than 100 skins, hides, or parts from furbearers or if it contains CITES listed species.
6. Are there any restrictions on the number of furs I can export in a single shipment?
No.  Just be certain that the information on your Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Wildlife and your CITES permit (if required) is accurate. Just remember that administrative charges apply to shipments containing more than 100 skins, hides, or parts.
7. If I consign furs to a broker or fur co-op for export, do any of the above licensing, permit and administrative fees still apply to me?
No.  The above fees apply only to the exporter, who can ship furs owned by several trappers. To minimize costs, you may wish to either consolidate your fur shipments with other trappers before they are exported or consign them to a fur broker who will export them for you, and will be responsible for fees.
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Some Examples:

A fur exporter must purchase an annual Import/Export license for $100.00, valid for one year. Each of the following examples assumes that this license has already been purchased.

1. Fur shipment of 100 or less skins does not contain CITES species, and is exported to Canada from Alcan, Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau.
   Total cost: $0
2. Fur shipment of 100 or less skins does not contain CITES species and is exported to Canada from a location other than Alcan, Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau.
   Designated Port Exception Permit: $100 (Valid for two years)
   Total cost: $100
3. Fur shipment of more than 100 skins does not contain CITES species and is exported to Canada from Alcan, Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau.
   Administrative charge: $55 (valid for one shipment only)
   Total cost: $55
4. Fur shipment of more than 100 skins does not contain CITES species and is exported to Canada from a location other than Alcan, Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau.
   Designated Port Exception Permit: $100 (valid for two years)
   Administrative charge: $95 (valid for one shipment only)
   Total cost: $195
5. Fur shipment of 100 or less skins contains CITES species and is exported to Canada from Anchorage only.
   Designated Port Exception Permit: $100 (valid for two years)
   CITES permit: $100 (valid for one shipment only)Administration Charge: $55
   Total cost: $255
6. Fur shipment of 100 or less skins contains CITES species and is exported to Canada from any location other than Anchorage.
   Designated Port Exception Permit: $100 (valid for two years)
   CITES permit: $100 (valid for one shipment only)Administration Charge: $95
   Total cost: $295
7. Fur shipment contains more than 100 skins whether non-CITES species, CITES species, or both which are exported from Anchorage.
   CITES permit: $100 (valid for one shipment only)
   Administrative charge: $55 (valid for one shipment only)
   Total cost: $155

Last updated: May 19, 2008
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