Customs authorities discover coral in a shipment

In a recent development, a package sent from the USA was intercepted by the Münster - Loddenheide customs office, containing five fragments of live corals. The recipient, a 61-year-old man from Münster, was invited to the customs office to receive the package, but discrepancies regarding its contents required him to open it in the presence of customs officers.

The import of live corals into Germany is subject to strict regulations due to conservation reasons, enforced by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. These regulations state that without a corresponding export document from the country of origin or dispatch and an import permit from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, live corals or their parts may not be brought into Germany if they are larger than 30 mm in size.

The corals found in the package ranged from three to nine centimeters in length, making their import prohibited by the customs office. The recipient was unable to provide the necessary documents for the corals, leading to their retention by the customs office.

As a result, the corals are now in the custody of the customs office, and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation will decide on their fate and further procedure. The agency responsible for this case is the Main Customs Office Münster, and press inquiries can be directed to Verena John, who can be reached at 0251/4814-1306, via email at [email protected], or on their website at www.zoll.de.

It is important to note that these corals are protected under the Washington Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing the overexploitation of wild fauna and flora. The person responsible for the further care of the preserved living coral is typically the designated marine biologist or aquarium specialist in charge of the coral's habitat.

This incident serves as a reminder of the strict import regulations in place for live corals in Germany, designed to protect these valuable and delicate marine species.