STEP #1 Identify the Materials:

Alaska Native artists employ a number of different wildlife materials in their work, often including products from multiple wildlife species in a single work. The numerous treaties, laws, and agreements that govern the trade of wildlife products apply to a wide array of various and overlapping groups of species. As a result, it is important to identify exactly what species an artist used in the creation of a given work. Shopkeepers and artists may wish to specify the materials used, by both common and scientific names, on sales tags or to provide documentation at the time of sale.

U.S. export officials strongly advise that international tourists carry documentation of the exact origin of the wildlife used in Native arts when returning home with their purchases, even if export or sale of that product is not restricted. A bill of sale or invoice is sometimes acceptable, but a government form - USFWS Declaration Form 3-177 - is best. This form is available at http://le.fws.gov.pdffiles/3-177.pdf or can be filed electronically at http://edecs.fws.gov.

The Anchorage Museum of History and Art, as well as shopkeepers and artists around the state, helped develop a list of wildlife products most often used in Native arts. Please be prepared to provide the common and scientific name for the material in question when exporting Alaska Native arts.

STEP #2 Match the Product with the Destination Country

This guide provides detailed information for several countries: Australia, Canada, China, the European Union (includes several countries), Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Taiwan (R.O.C.) and general information for other countries, in a chart format.

Large numbers of visitors from these countries come to Alaska each year. For each country covered, the guide provides a chart that lists the steps necessary, if any, for the export of a given material. In addition, the guide provides foreign contact information for import officials from each country. It is important to remember that each country controls what may cross its borders, and these laws change over time.

Some U.S. states have their own import restrictions. Check the following site for more information: http://offices.fws.gov/statelinks.html

STEP #3 Is it Commercial?

If a handicraft is exported by the purchaser in checked luggage or mailed as a gift to a friend and the exporter will not gain financially; it is considered a non-commercial or personal shipment. The export may require documentation, but this documentation is generally free of charge except in cases where a CITES export permit is required.

If a handicraft is sold over the internet, via a telephone/fax or over the counter, and a business or person is exporting the handicraft on the purchaser’s behalf, then it is considered a commercial export. A commercial export also includes handicrafts exported in checked baggage that will be resold or used for commercial display. Commercial exports require an export fee and documentation is required from USFWS.

For example, if the purchaser hand carries the item on air plane home less paperwork is generally needed and it is generally free depending on the materials used, but if the same purchaser has the business mail it to them then the export becomes a commercial export and the export will cost at least $55.

STEP #4 Determine how it will be exported:

If the export is indeed personal (ie. noncommercial), one needs to determine how it will be exported. Some countries have exemptions if an export is checked as personal baggage or hand-carried.

Once you have determined 1) whether the shipment is commercial or personal (ie. non-commercial, and 2) how it will be exported, you can now refer to the appropriate column on the applicable country chart when determine whether documentation is required.

STEP #5 Determine the required paperwork, permit, or action:

Each country chart has a symbols that can be matched the key to explain what documentation and/or permit types, if any, are needed to export a given wildlife species. Be aware that some of these documents may have fees associated with their issuance, a scheduled inspection and significant time to process permits for restricted materials.

A Final Note: The collection of ivory, bone, or artifacts is restricted on public and Native-owned lands. The Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) makes it illegal to excavate, damage, remove, sell, or transport any archaeological resources located on federal (public) lands. Also, be aware that wildlife taken from non-federal lands may be in violation of state or local laws, and transporting the wildlife in interstate or foreign commerce becomes a federal violation. When in doubt, ask about the source of the wildlife, and consider reporting suspicious objects to the Archaeological Resources Crime Hotline at (800) 478-2724.