Exporting insects from Indonesia

[fromindonesia]

Government authorities at Jakarta airport have stepped up their inspection of outbound parcels. All parcels x-ray detected with dried insects inside will be returned back to sender.
I am a trader of Indonesian insects and have been for the last 8 years, I have had no issues during that time, however last October 5% of my parcels were returned, last month 15% were returned. Other insect traders throughout Indonesia have had some parcels returned back also.

I have ceased trading until I obtain the legal license to do so.

My Indonesian staff have already made an application for my business to obtain export license and quarantine certificates. I have been advised that by following the correct procedure I will have the necessary permits to trade within 2 months.

My advice to buyers when buying from an Indonesian source is to contact the supplier. Find out if they have the export certificate to make sure your purchase leaves Indonesia.

I do not see this as being a long term problem, the serious traders will obtain their export license, those that trade on the fringes could be weaned out as the financial cost and time involved obtaining permits could be daunting.

Indonesia only has 20 species of butterfly under protected status, these are Cethosia myrina, some Ornithoptera and most Troides. Strangely some Ornithoptera such as O.aesacus (Obi Birdwing)have no protected status in Indonesia although it is listed CITES II. No other insect orders that I am aware of have protected status, it's that just now ALL dried insects require documentation for export.

Chris Nock
Batavia Bugs
Jakarta

[Adam Cotton]

What is the situation for foreign buyers who go to Bali to buy from Detani etc and carry specimens back in their luggage? I believe that a large number of western and Japanese dealers do that.

Adam.

[fromindonesia]

Probably the best way to go about it, if you have the nerve.
However the bottom line is that it is illegal. Also you can never be sure what new technology scanning procedures an airport has.
I would be a little bit wary about smuggling bugs in a suitcase, in the past it has worked out OK, nowadays with the tightening up of all levels of airport security somebody's luck will run out.

I would not like to be in the shoes of someone nabbed at Bali airport with a couple of hundred Birdwings or other insects for that matter in a suitcase. A hefty fine and extended tropical holiday in Kerobokan prison would be on the cards.

Chris

[wollastoni]

"I would not like to be in the shoes of someone nabbed at Bali airport with a couple of hundred Birdwings or other insects for that matter in a suitcase. A hefty fine and extended tropical holiday in Kerobokan prison would be on the cards. "

Me neither, let's make a difference though between non-protected butterflies bought in a Balinese shop with an invoice (like Detani), and a parcel of CITES specimens without permits.

In the first case, you "may" lose your parcel because you will lack the export permits and get a fine.
In the second case, you will indeed end in a beautiful tropical jail.

If Indonesia do issue some export permits to local sellers, it will be perfect. Let us know.
I hope they will also issue collecting permits to foreign entomologists... which is not the case today.

Chris, I hope your good job won't be undermine by the legendary Indonesian bureaucraty.

[Bugman]

Do you know about the situation in Malaysia? I will be collecting in Sabah in March and wanted to send the specimens to Switzerland in parcels. No protected species of course!

[Machaon]

I plan to visit Indonesia in a few months (Sumatra or Java) to collect butterflies. I ask for help from the forum participants in obtaining information about the export of insects across the border of Indonesia. Do I need to get permission from the quarantine service now? Someone managed to take out the insects from Indonesia without this permission? Are there any problems? I would be very grateful for any information!

Best regards,
Evgenii.