[meteorite-list] Customs & meteorites

[Elton Jones]

Having seen this issue come up from time to time, it is my opinion, in 
absence of specific local exceptions called out in the local 
jurisdictions, any meteorite is firstly and foremost a "mineral specimen 
for educational/scientific curiosity" and can be categorized as a 
mineral specimen without being dishonest.

"Mineral specimen" is an appropriate legal description for customs 
forms.  If composition is necessary line item, then "native iron, 
sulfides, and silicates" should suffice for composition. It doesn't meet 
the definition of "ore" and it isn't a source of precious metal. 
Quartzite as we all know is never found in meteorites.

I can import a diamond crystal tariff free but, if cut and polished it 
becomes a precious stone and the tariffs are laid on thickly.  As I 
recall mineral specimens are almost universally treated tariff-free 
under one of the UN boards that oversees such things as tariff classes

Certain classes of rocks are known as aggregates and can fall into 
different legal classes for tax purposes--especially for asset depletion 
rates-- Different criters when shipped in commercial quantities.

I futher believe that a given specimen of mineral/rock that hasn't 
specifically been legally identified as meteorite can be exported out of 
Canada or Australia without futher comment owing to the way the laws are 
written--else as a defense against illegal export charges..<wink> But I 
can't say if I've ever benefited from such a "mineral" purchase.

Elton


Marco Langbroek wrote:

> 
> Martin wrote:
> 
>  > (at customs office they are always a little desperate,
>  > because they don't know to which kind of goods they should
>  > group meteorites for the paper work, mostly, as I explain
>  > them, that they contain iron, they decide to number it
>  > as industrial slag, waste)
> 
> I received one parcel with a meteorite slice once, opened by customs and 
> classified by them as "pottery for decoration" on the accompanying VAT 
> papers.
> 
> - Marco   :-)
> 
> 
> -----
> Dr Marco Langbroek
> Dutch Meteor Society (DMS)
> 
> e-mail: meteorites at dmsweb.org
> private website http://home.wanadoo.nl/marco.langbroek
> DMS website http://www.dmsweb.org
> -----
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