Can I ship a whale bone sculpture from Canada to the USA?

Can I ship a whale bone sculpture from Canada to the USA?

 

I contacted US Customs and they said I should contact NOAA. I sent NOAA two messages and have received no response to date.

 

I found this, but is it in effect as its not from a official government sight.

 

 Export of Inuit Sculpture Containing Whalebone or Ivory

The export of certain Inuit sculpture from Canada to other parts of the world including the United States does have some restrictions. In order to reduce harvesting of marine animals such as whales and walruses, the United States Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. It was later modified in 1981 and a special section (101) of the act was developed to exclude Eskimo Inuit and other aboriginals living in the state of Alaska. Section 101 allowed Alaskan Natives to continue their traditions of hunting marine mammals for food and using parts of such animals as raw materials in the making of clothes, crafts and artwork.

The act makes it illegal for American citizens to import any ivory or whalebone from outside the United States. Therefore, American citizens would not be allowed to purchase any artwork containing ivory or whalebone from Canada and have it brought or shipped back to the United States. However, the act as it stands allows American citizens to purchase similar artwork from Alaska since it is part of the United States. The export of such artwork created from marine mammals from the United States to Canada is not allowed.

Accepted Solutions (3)

Accepted Solutions (3)

This looks official:

 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/

 

However, you don't need to go that far in researching if it is allowed.  Look at eBay's "Animals and Wildlife Products Policy" (site map>A-Z Index>Prohibited and restricted items.

 

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/policies/wildlife.html

 

So the answer is no, not only can you not export whale bone sculpture to the USA and certain other countries, you cannot have a listing on eBay for it.  Sellers in any country, shipping to any country, even within Canada, who try to put up such a listing will have it removed.  There may be various penalties, such as lower visibility for other listings, that come along with trying.  To give another example, seal products are legal in Canada, but illegal in the USA, and eBay does not allow listings on ebay.ca for shipment only within Canada.  Years ago I tried to list a sealskin hat and had the listing disallowed, a nasty note from eBay and a list of potential penalties if I tried again to list it.

You can ship it, but it may be seized at the border and destroyed.

EBay will refund your customer for Item Not Received.

 

 

TL/DR -- no.

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