Importation of Hatching Eggs: USDA

[dretd]

Quote:
ca, thank you for the information on your website! I have never heard of the Sulmtaler breed before and was delighted to read more about it. You are a very intrepid person to go through your ordeal for a beloved breed. I wish you well in your breeding program and hope the breed becomes more widespread!

I was thinking that it might be less of a headache to hand carry the eggs (fly over for a nice visit, have everything pre-arranged then hand-carry through the process so you have guarenteed flights and you are assured of the handling of the eggs). I was wondering if you had thought about this approach or if it might be just as much of a headache but in a different way. I was also wondering if you did a cost analysis of how much you invested per chick hatched?

I hope you didn't get all roos!

 

[ca]

Quote:
ca, thank you for the information on your website! I have never heard of the Sulmtaler breed before and was delighted to read more about it. You are a very intrepid person to go through your ordeal for a beloved breed. I wish you well in your breeding program and hope the breed becomes more widespread!

I was thinking that it might be less of a headache to hand carry the eggs (fly over for a nice visit, have everything pre-arranged then hand-carry through the process so you have guarenteed flights and you are assured of the handling of the eggs). I was wondering if you had thought about this approach or if it might be just as much of a headache but in a different way. I was also wondering if you did a cost analysis of how much you invested per chick hatched?

I hope you didn't get all roos!

I have thought about this:
The advantage is that you know EXACTLY what port and time the eggs will be arriving at. BUT: you have to confirm with USDA that the port is one they serve. Otherwise it's a no-go. You also have no clue how long the USDA inspection and customs will take. If you depend on a connecting flight you better be flexible. Biggest problem: FedEx planes are somewhat climate controlled. You would have to take the eggs carry-on which means they have to go through the x-ray machine (good luck in trying to convince screeners otherwise). And you would have to ask USDA first if this is an acceptable route. I am very ignorant when it comes to port entry procedures. Plus tickets are way expensive

. If you ever try it, let me know!

 

[dretd]

Quote:
I have thought about this:
The advantage is that you know EXACTLY what port and time the eggs will be arriving at. BUT: you have to confirm with USDA that the port is one they serve. Otherwise it's a no-go. You also have no clue how long the USDA inspection and customs will take. If you depend on a connecting flight you better be flexible. Biggest problem: FedEx planes are somewhat climate controlled. You would have to take the eggs carry-on which means they have to go through the x-ray machine (good luck in trying to convince screeners otherwise). And you would have to ask USDA first if this is an acceptable route. I am very ignorant when it comes to port entry procedures. Plus tickets are way expensive

. If you ever try it, let me know!

I think I would only try it if I was planning a vacation anyway because they are pricey! I know some folks have hand carried eggs through domestic travel and asked the screener to not x-ray them. They have pulled the eggs aside and swabbed them for whatever they look for and handed them through. Who knows what Europe is like and then there is the potential language barrier in trying to explain why you want to hand carry them. You'd have to plan for a one day delay on the connecting flight just in case. If I go for it I will surely post about it!

By the way, thanks for sharing the yummy-looking Bündner Nußtorte recipe. I will have to try it. It almost looks like a pecan pie made with walnuts that you throw a top crust over. Looks hugely rich!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

ca, after reading your site! Wow!

Sounds like a nerve racking process, to be sure. I will have to look into this further. If I found someone in the UK that was already NPIP and AI tested, would that sort of help the process along? If I did import eggs, once they shipped how long would it take them to get to me?

~ Aspen

 

[Illia]

So I'm guessing then it is straight up impossible to legally import some of the most rare and neat breeds out there, such as Ayam Cemani and Kosova Longcrower? Well there goes my future dreams.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Its not impossible to import, just difficult and expensive. My understanding is the origin flock must be quarrantined and tested clean of all disease. Here in Arkansas we have a multi-billion dollar a year poultry industry. When importing eggs or fowl we must all be responsible and help protect that industry.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
ca, thank you for the information on your website! I have never heard of the Sulmtaler breed before and was delighted to read more about it. You are a very intrepid person to go through your ordeal for a beloved breed. I wish you well in your breeding program and hope the breed becomes more widespread!

I was thinking that it might be less of a headache to hand carry the eggs (fly over for a nice visit, have everything pre-arranged then hand-carry through the process so you have guarenteed flights and you are assured of the handling of the eggs). I was wondering if you had thought about this approach or if it might be just as much of a headache but in a different way. I was also wondering if you did a cost analysis of how much you invested per chick hatched?

I hope you didn't get all roos!

I have thought about this:
The advantage is that you know EXACTLY what port and time the eggs will be arriving at. BUT: you have to confirm with USDA that the port is one they serve. Otherwise it's a no-go. You also have no clue how long the USDA inspection and customs will take. If you depend on a connecting flight you better be flexible. Biggest problem: FedEx planes are somewhat climate controlled. You would have to take the eggs carry-on which means they have to go through the x-ray machine (good luck in trying to convince screeners otherwise). And you would have to ask USDA first if this is an acceptable route. I am very ignorant when it comes to port entry procedures. Plus tickets are way expensive

. If you ever try it, let me know!

You are not far from wrong. I have a alert from Kayak that has a flight from Boston to London for $600 round trip. Further I have done some research and found that there need not be a quarantine on eggs from certain countries according to the USDA web site. Also that a permit can cover the entire amount of eggs being brought it. So when you consider that you can bring in more than a doz. eggs the odds are pretty good if you get fresh eggs and it take no more than ten days to get them here. Sure the viability drops but with 50 to 60 eggs you have good odds of getting than a dozen or more hatchings I would think. Provided of course you get "todays" hatch. I doubt it would be impossible to carry them onto the plane with you. I know I did this bringing eggs from AL. My SIL has family in the UK so I figure they'd help me if I was crazy enough to make the trip. A couple of nights in a hotel and if that was the only purpose of my trip, I think it can be done. Hotels are sure to have an ice machine to keep the eggs cool. On could easily carry 48 eggs or 4 cartons in you carry on. Me I just put them under my the seat in my back pack. They would fit there and a transalantic plane has more leg room.

I think what's stopping most of us is the fear in doing and acquiring all the paperwork. I have a friend who found a tortise in Greece and he brought it back. Can't be any harder than that.
If anyone was really serious it can be done with sponsorship.

 

[ca]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

ca, after reading your site! Wow!

Sounds like a nerve racking process, to be sure. I will have to look into this further. If I found someone in the UK that was already NPIP and AI tested, would that sort of help the process along? If I did import eggs, once they shipped how long would it take them to get to me?

~ Aspen

They don't have to be NPIP tested, it's specific diseases that USDA wants tested for:
The flock of origin has to be tested (and found to be negative) for
egg drop syndrome (adenovirus 127)
Salmonella enteritidis
viral turkey rhinotracheitis (avian pneumovirus)

Shipping can be done practically over night. The faster the pricier. But after you already spend hundreds of dollars on lab testing and permit fees I would not want to save on shipping cost. Every day it takes longer will decrease the hatching potential. With FedEx there really were no delays. (Theoretically!!!). If USDA is alerted they will check the eggs within a couple of hours of landing. Customs might take an additional several hours and your eggs will be off to the final destination.

 

[ca]

Quote:
The paperwork has two sides: importation permit from USDA is a breeze (if you consider the few pitfalls that I explained on my website). The harder part is the paperwork required in the country of origin. That is relatively easy if you have a determined proxy on location (like I have my dad

). If the originating farm has to go through all the paperwork they will either screw it up or charge you an arm and a leg for it. Family or trusted friends make it "easier". You'll still end up with a stack of papers for your "most annoying memories" scrapbook.
But really the cost should be the main deterrent. It exploded in my face. I thought $ 141 for the permit was it. And I was so wrong!!!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
They don't have to be NPIP tested, it's specific diseases that USDA wants tested for:
The flock of origin has to be tested (and found to be negative) for
egg drop syndrome (adenovirus 127)
Salmonella enteritidis
viral turkey rhinotracheitis (avian pneumovirus)

Shipping can be done practically over night. The faster the pricier. But after you already spend hundreds of dollars on lab testing and permit fees I would not want to save on shipping cost. Every day it takes longer will decrease the hatching potential. With FedEx there really were no delays. (Theoretically!!!). If USDA is alerted they will check the eggs within a couple of hours of landing. Customs might take an additional several hours and your eggs will be off to the final destination.

I need to make some super good friends in the UK...I'm really interested in this. I truly want to import some eggs someday.

I have another question for ya, what about live birds? What is the process for them? Is it pretty much the same, or is it different?

~ Aspen