No, international shipping actually is better on them than ourbloacl PO service here. They don't nuke em in x rays or nothing. People import here all the time. And do really well. On eggs they go straight to you to hatch IF they come from approved countries. Customs and all do visual inspections and the packages are checked when dropped off. You have to go threw a licensed broker to do it though. This is a government official who's job is to handle all this. The problem lies in all the paper work and permits on both ends. A US import permit last for about 21 days I think it is and will cost you about $2 grand! Then the same permits are needed on the sellers end overseas. Every disease known to man has to be tested for in the entire flock. If they pass then you are allowed to import. Birds are quarentined for 30 sick free days at $15 per bird per day. Add that up! Then add the $2000 permits and test on both ends, the brokers fees, and international air cargo fees... on eggs that you can take right home, you'd have $5000 in. Birds are ungodly....
This is the reason most don't import or export. Its not worth it unless its an extremely rare it nonexisting breed in your country. Once you have them, you'd have to do like green fire and charge absoultly stupid prices to make it worth it. Like their $5000 a pair cemani, which they didn't know had already been here for 15+ years.
I'd advise checking around the UK Ralf. There are quite a few breeders if them there . Sandra Hildreth there is a big Cochin breeder , but she has some nice Sumatra too from what I hear and she exports of