Invertebrate and general import laws

[FrogO_Oeyes]

Given the recurring number of questions regarding the legalities of invertebrates, I thought I would make the following information available in one place. Fortunately, Inverts were well-covered at the ERAS show, with both the Provincial Museum Bug Room, and the Canada Food Inspection Agency being on-hand.

In Alberta, invertebrates are largely unregulated. Fish and Wildlife basically doesn't deal even with native species, unless they are endangered. Alberta Agriculture has some dealings, but primarily where agricultural pests are concerned.

Federally, Species At Risk [SARA] applies to threatened or endangered native species, and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [CITES] to import or export of internationally endangered species. Trade and import may also be affected by the United States Endangered Species Act [ESA].

The most limiting factor, however, is the Plant Protection Act, which is administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency [CFIA, formerly included in Agriculture Canada], Plant Health Division. This act governs BOTH import AND possession throughout the country. The act has several convenient lists available, and they are quite extensive. I will not list their contents, but rather provide current links to them:

The most helpful list is "Organisms that do not require a plant protection permit to import". I will point out some of the highlights:
ALL aquatic snails
ALL centipedes
ALL earthworms from the USA
ALL leeches [ick]
ALL scorpions
ALL spiders

These may all be imported without special permission [although tarantulas, for example, have varying degrees of CITES control, and other regulations may apply].

These ALSO are on this list:
Aeromonas hydrophila [!] (this is the bacterium which causes red-leg disease in amphibians)
Acheta domestica from the USA (a pest, but crickets are so extensively used for bait and feed that they are unregulated. They're also not a huge pest)
Escherischia coli [!] (the infamous "E. coli", which is in everyone's gut anyway)

You still need an import permit [apparently only for species modifed by man, no indication that any of these animals, if natural, require ANY permit], but there are no restrictions on these organisms to prevent getting such a permit. [IE, everything on this list is fair game, no permit, just declare it, by species]. Contact CFIA for final clarification of this.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/.../orglste.shtml

Here is the import permit application. Even if you don't plan to import, the instructions are worth reading. If you wish to import ANY life form, these instructions are essential:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/for/pdf/c5256e.pdf
Here is the application for animal import:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...083perimpe.pdf

The following applies to all of us. Reptiles and amphibians [unless covered in other laws, such as CITES or SARA] are no longer regulated. It used to be that no import permit was required for reptiles or amphibians from the USA only. Now, no permit is required for import from ANY country [commercial import, I believe, still requires a rubber-stamp permit]. Turtles remain an exception, as I have outlined in another thread. It appears that as long as you own and physically carry them across the border yourself as your own pets, permits will be granted for most species. The wording suggests that you CAN go shopping in another country and bring it back, if you apply for the permit first and it's not intended for resale. You cannot ORDER it, nor can you ship it - you must carry it yourself.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...turtlese.shtml

Invertebrates again - the following list is species which may be imported or possessed only by approved facilities. Many scarabs, stick insects, and mantids are here:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...t/listce.shtml
This list is ONLY butterflies and moths for approved facilities:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...t/listae.shtml
This is the current list of approved facilities:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...t/listbe.shtml
List of pests regulated by Canada:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...tpespare.shtml

I don't see millipedes listed anywhere, and only a few cockroaches. If they're unlisted, they require a permit, and you may not get it.

General importation requirements [ie, at customs]:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/o...es/laws-e.html


I hope these help.
Andrew