Imports

Goods and materials being shipped to the U.S. from another country are subject to a variety of federal laws and regulations governing imports and exports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary agency responsible for regulating imports to the U.S. and requires importers to comply with documentation and recordkeeping procedures. Columbia has a designated customs broker who can assist with navigating CBP requirements for importing goods. For more information, please visit Columbia’s Procurement Website.

CBP works in coordination with a number of other federal agencies to regulate imports and exports of certain types of goods. This webpage describes other import requirements enforced by other federal agencies. For information on requirements for exporting goods from the U.S., please visit Columbia's Export Controls webpage.

Enforcement

In recent months, CBP has detained and questioned academic researchers bringing in research materials, including biological samples and archaeological materials. In certain cases, the U.S. government has brought criminal charges against the researchers, and some cases have resulted in deportation proceedings as well.  More information about these cases is available under Recent Developments.  Columbia urges our community to review applicable import laws and regulations to ensure that they understand the legal requirements.  To the extent practicable, Columbia encourages our community to ship imported research materials instead of hand-carrying materials.  If you have questions about the importation of research materials, please contact Columbia’s Office of Research Compliance and Training or, for biological materials, Columbia’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety for additional information and guidance.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regulates the import and export of wildlife into and from the U.S. under the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act. The agency defines “fish or wildlife” as follows:

“any wild animal, whether alive or dead, including without limitation any wild mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, whether or not bred, hatched, or born in captivity, and including any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof.” 50 C.F.R. § 10.12.

Anyone importing fish or wildlife to the U.S., or exporting fish or wildlife from the U.S., must comply with FWS regulations, including but not limited to the provisions summarized below.

3-177 Declarations

Importers and exporters must declare fish and wildlife entering/leaving the U.S. to FWS by submitting a “Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife,” also known as Form 3-177. Declarations must be submitted electronically to FWS via the eDecs platform. Declarations should be filed at the time of shipment. For more information about the 3-177 declaration process and other general import and export requirements, please review FWS's information for importers and exporters.

Special Requirements

U.S. law, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Lacey Act, and international law, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), impose additional requirements for importing and exporting certain species. For example, importing and exporting species that are endangered or otherwise protected by law or “injurious wildlife” may require additional permits, licenses, fees, documentation and recordkeeping. Violations of import and export regulations under these laws may result in FWS seizure and forfeiture of the wildlife, as well as criminal and civil penalties.

Importers and exporters dealing with fish, wildlife, and/or plant specimens should reach out to the Office of Research Compliance and Training for guidance.

For more information about the FWS and its activities, please visit the FWS website. For additional assistance determining whether a permit is required to import or export wildlife, please review FWS's Help Center Article on permits. 

Other Federal Agencies Regulating Imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the import and export of agricultural commodities, including plants and plant products, live animals and animal products, organisms and soil to and from the U.S. It is important for importers and exporters to understand the different requirements which may apply to these types of goods. For more information, please refer to the following USDA APHIS webpages: 

Additionally, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates the import and export of meat, poultry and egg products. For more information on the requirements for importing these types of goods, please review FSIS's Import Guidance. 

The FDA regulates a variety of products including certain foods, human and veterinary drugs, vaccines, biological products, medical devices, radiation-emitting products, cosmetics, dietary supplements and tobacco products. CBP refers all imported FDA-regulated products to FDA for review, and such imports are screened before they enter the U.S. to ensure they comply with agency standards. 

For more information, please visit the FDA's Import Program website. 

The CDC regulates items/substances which have the potential to spread diseases to humans. This includes certain animals, animal products, human remains, and infectious biological agents, substances and vectors of human disease. The CDC's Import Permit Program (IPP) regulates the import of these items into the U.S. 

For more information on CDC import regulations and to determine whether a permit is required, please review the following webpages: 

The EPA regulates a range of materials which may be sensitive to human health and the environment. This includes pesticides and pest control devices, chemicals, ozone-depleting substances, vehicles, engines, fuel and hazardous wastes. 

For more information about the import and export requirements for these materials and substances, please visit the EPA's Requirements for Importers and Exporters website. 

Summary and Resources

Anyone importing or exporting goods to and from the U.S. must review federal requirements to ensure all imports and exports comply with applicable requirements. Failure to comply can result in penalties, even if the item/materials are being imported solely for research purposes.

Individuals who are importing goods which require an import permit to Columbia are responsible for obtaining the relevant permits. The University does not hold institutional import permits or licenses. 

For assistance with declaration, permit, and other legal requirements, the Office of Research Compliance and Training can provide guidance. For imports of biological, chemical, radioactive, or other hazardous materials and controlled substances, please visit Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) for more information. Additional guidance can be found in Columbia's Biological Materials Shipping Manual. Enquiries to EH&S can be made to [email protected].

Researchers who plan to send or receive material from an external party should request a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). To request an MTA for human-derived material, please visit Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA). To request an MTA for non-human material, please visit Columbia Technology Ventures (CTV).