[K Karver]

I asked a question in another thread, mixed in with other stuff and have not received an answer. I was hoping to get one by next Tuesday when I leave the country.

So, does anyone know the rules on taking wood out of the country or bringing it in? I am thinking in particular of taking some cottonwood bark out of this time around.

Thanks in advance for the help.

John K Karver.

[Paul_Guraedy]

Unless you are taking whole logs out of a country there is not usually a problem on the "outgoing" end. There could be problems with the "incoming" and it would be worth checking (probably can be done by email) with the country you are visiting. May even be a problem bringing uncarved wood back into this country. Crossing borders has gotten real strange in the past few years. I doubt that most would have problems with a carving block; but, there could be a problem with bark (this is where insects generally hide.

[Mark N. Akers]

john:
I have ordered cottonwood from Canada,never had a problem,but I did ship a carving to scotland and when filling out a international sheet was told at the post office it wood be better if I put carving and left off the word wood.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

None of you will probably believe this but when I was going to the USSR on assignment part of our shipping consignment contained two boxes made from 2" thick slabs of Basswood. They were kind of heavy so we just filled them with some very light stuff. There was enough wood in those boxes to last our two years there. I found out shortly after our arrival that there is quite a woodcarving industry in that country and no shortage of wood to carve.

From that experience I'd suggest tossing in a couple of pieces and once there just check around to find out what they use. I'll bet you'll find some really interesting wood to carve and more importantly some new friends to show you where to get it. Just don't let them bug your woodcarving tools!

[Ashbys]

John ,

It depeneds upon the country, even state requirements are different . Although not normally enforced .

The only way to be sure is to check with the country your going into. Many now require all imported wood is to be heat treated. Even for personal use.

Ash

[K Karver]

Thanks everyone. I am off to California tomorrow at 7:30 AM Chicago time. Then to China. Will let you know what the rules that I get hung up on. Again, thanks for the input.

Blessings.

John K Karver