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Registered scientific institutions may exchange certain specimens of CITES listed species and Australian native specimens (except for certain exempt specimens), provided it is part of an exchange of non-commercial scientific specimens. Such scientific transfers do not require a formal export or import permit, but under this exemption must carry a label detailing specific information regarding the specimen(s). This exemption for certain scientific specimens is designed to facilitate scientific study, including study into the conservation, management, identification, classification and taxonomy of species.
Both the Australian and overseas scientific institutions must be registered with the CITES Management Authority in their country if they wish to exchange specimens derived from species listed under CITES.
Both the Australian and overseas scientific institutions must be registered to participate in the scientific exchange system for Australian native species not listed under CITES.
Overseas institutions that are already registered for exchange of CITES specimens (CITES register of scientific institutions ) do not need an additional registration for the purpose of exchanging non-CITES Australian native specimens. Overseas institutions which are not registered by their CITES Management Authority but wish to only exchange Australian native non-CITES specimens can apply to DEWHA for registration.
The loan, donation or exchange of specimens must be done so without monetary compensation, and the specimens must be legally obtained.
| Specimens that are covered: | Specimens that are not covered: |
|---|---|
| herbarium specimens (e.g. dried or pressed plants and flowers) | live animals |
| preserved, dried or embedded specimens (e.g. microscope slides or specimens preserved in alcohol, taxidermy specimens, or tanned skins) | any specimens that are not first accessioned into the collection of a registered institution (e.g.: fresh blood, sera or semen samples, or specimens collected by field researchers) |
| frozen specimens (e.g. frozen tissue samples) | |
| live plant material (e.g. whole plants or specimens collected in the field) | |
| animal DNA derived from preserved, dried or embedded museum specimens or plant DNA derived from live plants, herbarium specimens or preserved, dried or embedded museum specimens |
Registered institutions must meet the following standards:
An institution which is already listed on the Index Herbariorum is accepted as having met these standards and can be added to the register on that basis for native, non-CITES specimens. In this instance the institution must indicate that it is listed on the Index Herbariorum when applying for registration.
For CITES registration, institutions should contact their country's CITES Management Authority.
If an overseas institution only plans to exchange non-CITES Australian native specimens and is not registered with their CITES Management Authority to exchange specimens that are listed on CITES, then that institution should register with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by following the same procedure as for Australian institutions.
When registration is approved, each Australian institution is issued with an official scientific exchange label template individually created for that institution. This template allows registered institutions to print their own labels as required. There are two versions of the templates – one for CITES specimens and one for Australian native non-CITES specimens. For export from Australia, the package containing the specimen must have a scientific exchange label attached which shows:
The scientific exchange label must be signed by a person authorised by the registered Australian institution to dispatch specimens.
The labels do not replace the requirement to affix the appropriate Customs Declaration forms supplied by Australia Post. In addition, all export requirements of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) must be met. Where the value of the consignment exceeds $2000 or a permit requirement applies, a formal export declaration must be lodged with the ACBPS. If the value is $2000 or less, and no permit requirement applies, a formal export declaration is not required. Clearance must also be obtained from the ACBPS for the import of goods into Australia. For details about these requirements contact the ACBPS office in your State capital or the head office at:
Address:
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone:
1300 363 263 (within Australia) or
+61 2 6275 6666 (from outside Australia)
Web site: www.customs.gov.au
Email: information@customs.gov.au
For import into Australia, CITES specimens must be accompanied by documentation issued or endorsed by the exporting country’s CITES Management Authority complying with the CITES provisions for exchange of scientific specimens (Article VII.6 and Resolution Conf 11.15). The scientific exchange label is not required for the import of Australian native non-CITES listed specimens.
Registered institutions must maintain a record of all exchanges undertaken. These records must be made available to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts upon request.
A review of the register of scientific institutions will be conducted every 5 years to ensure that the information is up-to-date and that all institutions continue to meet the requirements of registration.
Institutions that no longer meet the requirements or that may have been exchanging specimens contrary to the requirements outlined above will be removed from the Register.
Under the previous system of labeling packages for scientific exchange, institutions were able to create their own labels as long as they contained the information detailed under “Using the system (How to exchange)”. As the new system is designed to reduce the seizure of exchange material and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has been made aware of the changes, the new labels should be used immediately to replace labels created by your institution.
Note: If a specimen does not meet all the criteria for scientific exchange, registered institutions must apply for a research permit