SHIPPING

Gone are the days where international travellers could consign with confidence large shipments of hunting trophies back home as personal luggage. Recent events of terrorism have further tightened security measures at all international and national airports in a concerted effort to enforce stricter codes of security for international travellers and articles of luggage.

Furthermore, some international airlines have openly expressed concerns and exercised “discretion policies ‘‘ in related to the transport of animal products in an effort to restrict cross contamination by soilage from fresh hides and the transmittal of viral disease forms such as FMD .

The transport of firearms has also become a contentious issue amongst a number of airlines servicing the international routes. Incidents in the past have been documented in which guns and equipment were damaged, misdirected, or lost all together whilst in transit.

As recently as October 2002, a huge stash of sporting firearms thought to be lost, surfaced as a result of investigations in a foreign locality. Strict permit requirements are required for the export and importation of firearms into Australia.

The prospects that these scenarios will improve in the immediate future are remote. It is therefore advisable to talk with a reputable freight broker regarding the transport and importation of hunting trophies into Australia.

Within the USA, mandatory delays are in place to prevent the possible loading of dangerous articles onto all commercial carriers. Unless a consignment is from a recognised established company regularly dealing with the airlines, no commercial freight item will be loaded as a priority shipment without these mandatory procedures of security.

To all our clients, we say please do your homework prior to your travels and allow yourself enough time before departure from Australia to ensure that you have in place all the required paperwork to satisfy transit requirements. And if unsure of these requirements, contact your regular freight/customs broker, or call us at South Pacific Taxidermy for further details.