Trophy Import issues into Canada

Perfect thanks a lot Brickburn! Now I have to play the waiting game until I get to South Africa in 32 Days!

The theory is about to be tested.

My trophies from Namibia are about to be shipped.
They are packed and the payment has been made.
I'll get the notification and AWB Number shortly. Then to track it until it gets to the port of entry.

Going to have a chat with a local Accredited Taxidermist and make an arrangement with them.
Some of these trophies and D&P and some are finished.

I'll let you know how it goes.









The delay created by the change of interpretation by the CFIA necessitated a large delay in shipping my first set of trophies. The Taxidermist had already invoiced me in August and was ready to go.

With the changes the Taxidermist had to find a solution. It took a while, but they did.

It looks like one of those Vacuum Storage Bags advertised on late night Shopping networks.
The SOLUTION provided by the Taxidermist for the new CFIA regulations.





So here it is: A "Crate Condom"

My trophies were released from the airport today, I had 12 animals in there, including several CITES animals, primates, pigs, lion claws, several skulls, and had zero issues, and not even a single question or concern.
However...I always have all my animals 100% mounted up, boiled out, and tanned in SA. I am sure that this makes a big difference, and makes the import process much smoother than bringing in raw trophies of any type.
My taxidermist there in the Limpopo, does a fantastic job, having done 35 animal mounts for me now, and is in fact going to be my PH on my next trip in May, after my one week with Pieter at Paw Print.
First thing in the morning tomorrow, Canadian Freightways will pick up my crate, and I should have them here in B.C. on Thursday morning...YES!!

Good for you SNIPER59!

SNIPER59 said:

My trophies were released from the airport today, I had 12 animals in there, including several CITES animals, primates, pigs, lion claws, several skulls, and had zero issues, and not even a single question or concern.
However...I always have all my animals 100% mounted up, boiled out, and tanned in SA. I am sure that this makes a big difference, and makes the import process much smoother than bringing in raw trophies of any type.
My taxidermist there in the Limpopo, does a fantastic job, having done 35 animal mounts for me now, and is in fact going to be my PH on my next trip in May, after my one week with Pieter at Paw Print.
First thing in the morning tomorrow, Canadian Freightways will pick up my crate, and I should have them here in B.C. on Thursday morning...YES!!

Click to expand...

Congrats. I am looking forward to seeing your trophies after they arrive.

I am going to do exactly the same thing with the next set. Completed before they ever leave Africa to avoid the new CFIA
interpretation. Like you I have found an excellent taxidermist that I trust. (That is the hard work.)

SNIPER59 said:

My trophies were released from the airport today, I had 12 animals in there, including several CITES animals, primates, pigs, lion claws, several skulls, and had zero issues, and not even a single question or concern.
However...I always have all my animals 100% mounted up, boiled out, and tanned in SA. I am sure that this makes a big difference, and makes the import process much smoother than bringing in raw trophies of any type.
My taxidermist there in the Limpopo, does a fantastic job, having done 35 animal mounts for me now, and is in fact going to be my PH on my next trip in May, after my one week with Pieter at Paw Print.
First thing in the morning tomorrow, Canadian Freightways will pick up my crate, and I should have them here in B.C. on Thursday morning...YES!!

Click to expand...

who did the work in Limpopo?

Sniper59, Congrats on a hassle free shipment, looking forward to the pics and as mine is soon to leave RSA hoping for the same hassle free procedure!

Good news, glad to hear it.

I just got the email that the trophies are within a week of hitting the plane.

As soon as I get the air waybill I'll have the conversation with the local taxidermist about picking the stuff up and completing the trip for me.

The delay.

It took one typo in the address of the taxidermist to have the intermediary bank hold the money transfer and not bother to notify anyone.
I called the bank. They wanted business numbers, tax numbers, etc etc.
I corrected the address, provided a business number and still ended up waiting another week to hear anything.

Customer service was not part of their business model.

6 Weeks delay in total for this process.

The trophies are now waiting for the plane in Joburg.
Then they are off to Luxemburg and then home to Canada.

More waiting..




In preparing for the landing of my first shipment POST CFIA INSANITY, I started calling about prices.
You know, those prices for the duplication of disinfection services I have already paid for once. :redhot:

So far, the cost is coming in at about 50% of the cost of shipping the trophies to Canada.


Everyone is charging
$200 to pick the crate up.
$50.00 for Disposal of deadly disease ridden paper crate.
$75 per head to disinfect again. (Immerse in diluted Hydrogen Peroxide solution for 4 days)

These are 6 euro mounts, 4 loose horns and 6 loose Warthog Tusks, no tanning. Disinfection!

$735.00

That does not include the costs of possibly being required to use a broker.

This is now really motivating me to start to flatten my forehead against a brick wall and start my own personal crusade with the CFIA. :banghead:


BEWARE RANT STARTS HERE.




Because I can't help myself I started to work on the process of complaining.
When asked about the justification for this process I get a reply somewhat akin to "I dunoh". That is what came from Ottawa.

I ask; "Who is it that made the decision?" Same response: "I dunoh".

After people (African hunters, that special group this treatment is focused upon) started getting mad they started back with a prepared email reply of where you can complain or Appeal.
Not an explanation or rationale but a method of redirecting you to some bureaucratic black hole.

Of course its anonymous, not someone you can speak to or hold responsible.

How to reach us
Complaints, Comments and Compliments

By phone
Our phone lines are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
Monday to Friday.

Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342
Local: 613-773-2342
TTY: 1-800-465-7735

By email
CAO_BPA@inspection.gc.ca

By mail

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
c/o Complaints and Appeals Office
1400 Merivale Road, T1-6-350
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y9

By Fax
Toll-free: 1-855-297-4198
Local: 613-773-6561

Here is the link to the fillable FORM.

http://inspection.gc.ca/DAM/DAM-aboutcfia-sujetacia/STAGING/text-texte/c5686_re_1334173897391_eng.pdf


Now to really get you rolling on the floor with mirth

Here is their Policy on Decision making from the CFIA website.
Note the effective date. Before this stupidity started. Perhaps no one got the memo about transparency.

I was never consulted about this change nor notified. From many of my interactions in the past few months, including the head of inspections out west, they were not even consulted about this change in application of legislation and policy.


Transparency in Regulatory Decision Making

Transparency in Regulatory Decision Making; Policy Framework
1. Effective Date
1.1 This policy takes effect on April 1st, 2013.

2. Context
2.1 The Government of Canada is committed to making information available to Canadians on a proactive and ongoing basis in an effort to share knowledge and ensure accountability. Canadians expect the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to deliver its mandate in a manner that is transparent, and regulated parties want to be fully informed of their regulatory responsibilities.CFIA's activities and decisions related to food safety, plant and animal health have a direct affect on the lives and businesses of Canadians.

The reputation and credibility of the CFIA are vital to its ability to deliver its mandate. As such, the CFIA is committed to being accountable in how it does business in part by informing stakeholders and the public of its regulatory activities and decisions and reporting publicly on its performance.

Can you say abysmal failure!

3. Policy Statement
3.1 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is committed to being as transparent as possible and will proactively provide the public with useful and timely information on CFIA regulatory programs and services, regulatory requirements, and the outcomes of its enforcement actions and decisions.

If this process was timely dissemination of information I can only imagine what they think this is an improvement upon

4. Policy Objective
4.1 The objectives of the policy are:

To better inform stakeholders of all CFIA regulatory programs, services and requirements;
To affirm visible accountability for CFIA's regulatory programs and services; and,
To enhance public confidence in Canada's regulatory system for food safety, animal health and plant protection.

5. Guiding Principles
5.1 The CFIA has an important role as an information collector, producer, developer, disseminator and analyzer. In these roles, the CFIA's actions and decisions taken under the policy are grounded in the CFIA's Statement of Values and Ethics. As such, when information is posted it will reflect scientific rigour and will be underpinned by professional and technical competence.

Show me the science and rigour in this policy shift?

The following additional principles apply to the public release of information:
...............

6. Application
6.1 The policy applies to all CFIA regulatory programs and services, except for those that fall within the exceptions category outlined below.

The information provided on CFIA program requirements, activities and decisions would be of interest to:

Consumers and representative consumer associations;
Regulated parties and representative industry associations;
Academia and non-governmental organizations;
Federal institutions, provincial and municipal governments; and,
Foreign governments, international organizations.
7. Exceptions
7.1 This policy does not apply to information subject to valid privacy, security or privilege limitations. This includes the Privacy Act, Access to Information Act, as well as common law relating to confidential business information.

8. Monitoring
8.1 The CFIA will review this policy, including an evaluation of achieving the policy objectives, as part of the Agency five year evaluation plan. The timing of this review is subject to the policy rank when considering all areas of risk or significance within the CFIA.

That would be great. Once every five years they plan to evaluate the objectives

EPIC FAIL!


It took me for bloody ever to find some of the folks NEAR THE TOP that might actually be able to answer some questions.

The most likely culprit.

Paul Mayers
Vice-President, Policy and Programs
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Vice President, Policy and Programs

1400 Merivale Road Tower 1, Floor 4, Room 104
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9 Canada
Telephone : 613-773-5747
Fax : 613-773-5969
E-mail : Paul.Mayers@inspection.gc.ca

Then another one

Neil Bouwer
Senior Vice-President, Agency Transformation
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Vice President, Policy and Programs

1400 Merivale Road Tower 2, Floor 3, Room 152
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9 Canada
Telephone : 613-773-5734
E-mail : Neil.Bouwer@inspection.gc.ca

and perhaps this Vet needs some of your ire.

Dr Ashok K Mengi
Veterinary Program Specialist, Import Programs
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Import Program

1400 MERIVALE ROAD, TOWER 1, Floor 4, Room 221
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9 Canada
Telephone : 613-773-6496
Fax : 613-773-5692
E-mail : Ashok.Mengi@inspection.gc.ca


Off to storm the bastille :angrymob:

One more thing we can blame on EDMONTON!

Contact form for the Minister Responsible



Contact the Minister - Health Canada

The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.
Health Canada
Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney's Pasture
Postal Locator: 0906C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9



The riding website:

Hon. Rona Ambrose | Edmonton?Spruce Grove



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