[meteorite-list] International Shipping/Customs Questions

[MEM]

Hello Matt, List

Disclaimer:  This below discussion is for entertainment purposes only and the 
reader should consult their own legal services for legal advice as applicable. 

All those terms you mention apply to "meteorites" legally and legitimately. 
Meteorites are a subset of rocks so they are "geological samples". If you 
mark the contents as "meteorite" you are inviting pilferage and the kind of 
inquiry noted. To my knowledge "meteorite" is not a classification in the tariff 

tables so it can be subjectively placed within a more expensive tariff class if 
the customs agent is having a bad day. I prefer the declaration  "geological 
specimen for study" vs "scientific" as it removes any question of it not being a 

"biological sample". So if you declare it a "geological sample for study" the 
customs agent can check the little box on the computer screen and your packages 
is on its way.  The agent doesn't care what it is, so long as it fits neatly and 

legally in the paperwork. Don't give them a motive to think outside the box. 

Here are several facts regarding the nuances of shipping into the US and an 
example of how items can have multiple "values" legally. Under US import rules, 
scientific samples are not duty-able,  however biological samples can be 
embargoed/quarantined for additional information-- invite inspection at a Level 
3 containment facility and be arbitrarily destroyed if everything is not letter 
perfect including CITES compliance certification( Endangered Species  
Compliance).  Technically, if importing/mailing "rocks" vs "geological samples" 
into the US, you may have also have to certify that they have been autoclaved in 

an oven at 250(?) degrees F for 2 hours(?) to kill nematodes. Once again, 
"geological samples for study" invites the least attention both by customs 
agents and thieves.  

One gray area is the value declaration "No Commercial value(NCV)".  My rule of 
thumb is, if the intrinsic value of a specimen is substantially less then its 
study value ( NOTE: I am not addressing "collector's value" for then is may have 

commercial value) then you can still insure it under the theory of 
asset/replacement value and still legally and legitimately declare "No 
commercial value".  Importing small quantities of rocks and or minerals into the 

US is generally not taxed. If shipping a specimen outside the US where they have 

hard line import/VAT fees I believe you are entitled declare NCV but if you 
insure it for extraordinary value then depending on country to country the 
insurance value might invoke Duty/Vat charges on the customer.

CAVEATS:  If you are importing "ruby facet rough" for the purpose of making your 

own finished stones, then I am not sure you are entitled to use "NCV or 

Geological sample for study" in the customs declaration.   If however you are 
redistributing/reselling it or reshipping it to others who may be only buying it 

for a "study sample", then you might be able to legally use "NCV/Specimen for 
study". It is a gray area and depends on if you are receiving a small packet or 
a Sea-Land 40ft container.  "Country of Origin" can a problem if importing 
material which was originally recovered in Mymimar or pearls from Tahiti(?) 
unless they contain within the packing the words " Collected before embargo" 
assuming they were in fact from old collections.

Intrinsic vs Commercial vs Asset valuation.
You go to on expedition to Greenland for 4 weeks and collect fossil bearing 
rocks for distribution to other researchers or for your own amateur study ( 
NOTE: "Research" includes "study" but "study" doesn't always imply "research". 
The exclusion wording in US law is " specimens for study").  

The rocks themselves, in the low quantity you are shipping/importing, are 
"intrinsically" equal to "gravel" in value-- limestone is limestone is 
limestone--10 cents per lb at your local landscaper. In and of itself. a 
specimen, or crate thereof, may not have intrinsic value. Exceptions maybe 
precious metal nuggets where intrinsic value could be argued but are generally 
never questioned by customs unless they have extraordinary value like several 
thousand coin of the realm. If they are not intended to be refined then they 

theoretically qualify as no intrinsic value. NOTE: "No intrinsic value" is a 
legal concept-- not for customs declaration purposes.  It is a legal argument 
against being taxed should the issue arise. If anyone has nuggets they can't 
import send them to me I CAN whip out a quick study plan but will of course have 

to retain a portion for my own study and edification.

Back to our example, the cost of collecting is called the acquisition cost which 

is the accounting value you place on your "asset" -- e.g. the expedition cost to 

go to Greenland, room, board, tool rental, local guide, supplies while there and 

etc--. Lets say it works out $1000 per kilogram.  This is the cost to go back to 

Greenland and replace the material and what you are insuring.

You may legitimately value the specimens along those lines even if they have no 
commercial value. So even if it is gravel in a commercial sense it has no 
"intrinsic" value but still "valuable" to study --Say...study the evolution of a 

sub-species of  trilobites of the Ordovician found only in Greenland--ergo its 
scientific value far exceeds its intrinsic value and can be worth $1000 per kilo 

for asset valuing purposes and be still be of no commercial value.

Cut stones;  Even though cut stones are or were legitimately geological samples, 

the act of cutting to a gem, moved them into a "manufactured goods" category 
which can be duty-able,  but not as much tariff as they would get be were they 
set in a finding-- then they are jewelry and garner a luxury tariff.. The 
cutting /preparation of a geological "specimen" in general does not change its 
classification since cutting is customary practice in preparing samples for 
study--and does not alter its intrinsic value.

Disclaimer:  This above discussion is for entertainment purposes only and the 
reader should consult their own legal services for legal advice as applicable. 

Elton