Article Concerning Importation Of Fish

bronzecat · Mar 28, 2009

Hi

On the betta section over the past month, and recently in Tropical discussions, the legality of importing fish into the UK was brought up. The primary way for an individual to buy a fish from outside the EU appears to be through the site Aquabid.

Although this article is from their archives, it does spell out the legal issues and possible punishments for anyone illegally importing...................... http

/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...em.php?news=868

Tolak · Mar 28, 2009

Very good article! Laws vary, sometimes wildly between countries. Figuring out the proper paperwork for transshipping does take quite a bit of work, as well as money for the proper licensing.

modaz · Mar 28, 2009

bronzecat said:
Hi

On the betta section over the past month, and recently in Tropical discussions, the legality of importing fish into the UK was brought up. The primary way for an individual to buy a fish from outside the EU appears to be through the site Aquabid.

Although this article is from their archives, it does spell out the legal issues and possible punishments for anyone illegally importing...................... [URL="http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...em.php?news=868"]http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...em.php?news=868[/URL]

great post, seriously, I dont see why people do it and there are a fair few that i know of who are importing from every where without a license. I go through a transhipper who i also use for our general tropical fish. A license to import is free and easy to get, but its the excess holding fees and health certificate fees and the max of fish per box to make it worth while selling that is the issue and most people only want one or two fish so they go ahead and buy them. If caught in the UK you can face a jail term as well as a very large fine and many do not realize this.

modaz · Mar 28, 2009

modaz said:
bronzecat said:

Hi

On the betta section over the past month, and recently in Tropical discussions, the legality of importing fish into the UK was brought up. The primary way for an individual to buy a fish from outside the EU appears to be through the site Aquabid.

Although this article is from their archives, it does spell out the legal issues and possible punishments for anyone illegally importing...................... [URL="http/"http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...em.php?news=868""]http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...em.php?news=868[/URL]

Click to expand...

great post, seriously, I dont see why people do it and there are a fair few that i know of who are importing from every where without a license. I go through a transhipper who i also use for our general tropical fish. A license to import is free and easy to get, but its the excess holding fees and health certificate fees and the max of fish per box to make it worth while selling that is the issue and most people only want one or two fish so they go ahead and buy them. If caught in the UK you can face a jail term as well as a very large fine and many do not realize this.

What also gets my goat is that some will export for the sake of the money from their aquabid sales without a care in the world for the fish. They pack in the same manner as they would for short distances and its really not a good thing to be done for the betta. They dont take in consideration of our local temperature, a fish that doesnt need a heat pack in one country may well depserately need one when it arrives to another. Ive spoken to people who have imported this way and none of it has been good news in the end.

bronzecat · Mar 28, 2009

And, I learnt something from it........Didn't realise that the laws regarding importing from other EU countries was so strict either. Apart from the issues to the health of the fish, and the obvious penalties that can be imposed by the authorities, it also jeopardies' the businesses of legal importers like Modaz :good:

modaz · Mar 28, 2009

bronzecat said:
And, I learnt something from it........Didn't realise that the laws regarding importing from other EU countries was so strict either. Apart from the issues to the health of the fish, and the obvious penalties that can be imposed by the authorities, it also jeopardies' the businesses of legal importers like Modaz

We had a consignment of 200 bettas and other tropical fish destroyed before due to their being an insect found in the box upon insection. I was totally gutted for the fish. They are really strict and wont take any prisoners. They came with certs and from a supplier who supplied us fish often. Thankfully this issue does not affect us as a business apart from the loss. We also had bettas held for 5 days due to also ordering IAL with the consignment and the supplier forgetting to declare the leaves. The leaves were destroyed but lucky for the bettas they were released by customs after some heavy and intense pleading by myself and the transhipper. I sit and wait for news of someone being taken to court for illegal imprting b/c it wil happen at some point and a large lesson will be learnt.