Paleonet: Posting specimens UK to EU

[P Brewer]

FYI, the example below was with a large institution with a long history and knowledge of exporting and importing specimens correctly, all the correct codes and documentation and things paid for. It happens.

-----Original Message-----
From: Paleonet <paleonet-bounces+pipb666=hotmail.com at paleonet.org> On Behalf Of P Brewer
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2023 11:19 AM
To: PaleoNet <paleonet at paleonet.org>
Subject: Re: Paleonet: Posting specimens UK to EU

I actually had a problem before Brexit. The customs agents weren't happy with the valuation. There is sometimes a misunderstanding that all fossils have significant monetary value, despite a formal letter explaining the nature of the samples. It happens from time to time with customs agents (and we used a courier as well).

Pip

-----Original Message-----
From: Paleonet <paleonet-bounces+pipb666=hotmail.com at paleonet.org> On Behalf Of Simon Schneider
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2023 10:27 AM
To: paleonet at paleonet.org
Subject: Re: Paleonet: Posting specimens UK to EU

Dear Lucy,

It is clearly a Brexit issue. I had similar experience with German customs, several times over the last couple of years, but never before.
Material, in some cases only a small padded envelope with rock samples for nannofossil analyses, was held back by customs, and the recipients were asked to pay for customs clearance - despite all being declared as scientific rock samples, no commercial value. In two cases, samples (fortunately only splits) got completely lost.

My personal conclusion is, I don't send non-replaceable samples any more. I haven't tried courier yet though, only Royal Mail.

All the best,
Simon

On 19/10/2023 08:45, Lucy Muir wrote:
>
> Dear all,
>
> This is mostly a question for UK-based paleonetters. I have just found
> out that a parcel of fossil specimens that I tried to send from the UK
> to Spain has been returned - for the second time. One of my colleagues
> has had a box of specimens rejected by Portuguese customs, so this is
> not just me. I assume that this is something to do with changes in
> customs after Brexit. Can anyone give any advice on sending specimens
> from the UK so that they will actually reach their destination?
>
> Additional information, in case it's useful: I filled in a customs
> form saying that the contents were "Geological specimens for study"
> and giving a value of £1. (I put this value in on the advice of Post
> Office staff - at the first attempt I had said that the value was £0.)
>
> I would like to go to Spain on holiday, but it seems a little
> ridiculous to have to do that in order to hand over some fossils...
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Lucy
>
>
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--
Dr. Simon Schneider
Geologist-Palaeontologist
CASP, West Building
Madingley Rise, Madingley Road
Cambridge CB3 0UD
United Kingdom
http://www.casp.org.uk/

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