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Post by ziman on Jan 4, 2014 14:27:55 GMT
Another sorry situation with US customs: U.S. Customs destroys flutes because they're bambooApparently our flutes are now "agricultural items". Heh. I guess neys (the type of flute involved in this case) are particularly vulnerable, as they look like raw cane even in the finished state, whereas a dizi or xiao with carving, lacquering, inlay decorations or metal tenons might not look as "fresh", so hopefully they'll be less vulnerable to such seizure. Then again, who knows how the customs officers determine what is and is not a "biological risk"? |
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Post by thebamboogrove on Jan 4, 2014 15:55:38 GMT
Its common sense for people doing transportation and shipping to avoid plant terms...
A clarinet is a clarinet, it doesn't say Dalbergia Melaoxyan - Clarinet ... which by the way is CITES Level 2
Similarly, classical flute is classical flute - Please do not write GOLD PLATED Classical flute . Thats smuggling of Gold, illegal in Asia
Except for Japan, most custom officers don't even know what a shamisen is, They are CITES Level 2 regulated as well, brought mine in and out of so many countries, posted by Fedex, EMS, without a single issue.
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Post by Blue on Jan 4, 2014 16:24:56 GMT
help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1359/kw/bambooIn general, bamboo that is not thoroughly dried and is therefore still capable of propagation is prohibited entry into the United States. Bamboo that is thoroughly dried and split or cut lengthwise (rendering it incapable of propagation) will be inspected upon entry and released. Unsplit dried bamboo canes/stakes/poles also are allowed entry into the United States after inspection: however, if the bamboo canes/stakes/poles are intended for garden or nursery use, the shipment must be fumigated (T404-d treatment extended to 24 hours) upon arrival at the U.S. port of entry. Bamboo furniture, bamboo cloth, and other manufactured products made of bamboo do not require fumigation and will be released upon inspection.
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Post by Blue on Jan 4, 2014 16:28:45 GMT
Neys are dried products incapable of propagation, and I don't think I'm going use it in a garden or nursery unless I just want to play that flute in a garden.
Ought to fire those officials for their poor IQ and research skills.
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Post by Flolei on Jan 4, 2014 20:55:55 GMT
If I understood well, the guy had a couple of FRESH bamboo/cane sticks beside 15 flutes and the customs destroyed the whole container. So, the risk was maybe real, but they should have destroyed only fresh plants, not dry musical instruments!
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 4, 2014 22:27:32 GMT
If I understood well, the guy had a couple of FRESH bamboo/cane sticks beside 15 flutes and the customs destroyed the whole container. So, the risk was maybe real, but they should have destroyed only fresh plants, not dry musical instruments! Actually now you mention it, I can understand why the flutes were destroyed. The raw bamboo canes could have harboured bugs and they in turn could have infected the flutes. Haven't anyone seen the programme about killer bees? Also the Galapagos Islands aren't what they used to be before tourism. |
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Post by Blue on Jan 5, 2014 0:41:18 GMT
Such logic implies that the musician intended to cure those reeds/bamboos when he returned home because no one fashions fresh raw bamboo into a flute. Curiously, though, the musician is a globetrotter, so what didn't this incident happen earlier if we do assume there was raw bamboo involved?
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Post by Flolei on Jan 5, 2014 8:59:29 GMT
Maybe he didn't have raw bamboo with before, maybe he was lucky... My 12 years old daughter - who likes sewing and make thinks from paper/cardboard - "forgot" (?) to leave her cutter at home. She had it in her bag and all was OK. But I had to unpack my "dadi" to show to the policeman how the metallic tenon looked like...
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Post by Blue on Apr 8, 2014 14:21:12 GMT
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Post by zixinus on Jun 9, 2014 8:58:38 GMT
Would this incident be avoided if the fresh bamboo was somehow fumigated or otherwise sterilized somehow?
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Post by Blue on Jun 11, 2014 14:24:51 GMT
This incident could have been avoided if the passenger was with this luggage full of bamboo when he passed customs/immigration. He could have declared the item and fully explain the contents. But he wasn't around with this luggage and the customs people had to destroy the material and err on the side of caution.
Additionally, the bamboo cannot be fresh. It has to be air-dried/cured for some time. Raw plant products cannot enter the United States without the proper permit and authorization.
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Post by zixinus on Jun 12, 2014 20:53:46 GMT
The reason why the customs law is there is due to fear of pathogens and other parasites riding on the fresh bamboo. If these are killed (through chemical or radiation) while leaving the bamboo fresh, wouldn't that eliminate the problem? Thus be able to safely transport fresh bamboo in without making problems within US borders?
Then again, you'd need some sort of certificate for that and I guess the player forgot.
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