Coral

[emmagleb]

Hi, as a self confessed shopaholic eBay has become a place of bargaining. I've found the most gorgeous necklace made of black coral, but it's in China. If I were to buy it and have it sent here, is this legal, since coral is an endangered species? Also, will there be any tax to be paid on the import? The coral has come from sustainable resources, so morally I feel ok about it. Thanks :-)

[heathfield]

Black coral is definitely on the international list of endangered species and requires a special import permit, otherwise it will be confiscated by HM Customs. The only way in which black coral is "sustainable" is through strictly regulated gathering of a little at a time. I'm very suspicious about "sustainable" claims from China, considering the amount they offer for sale.There is actually no EU import duty on black coral items from China, but the total price, including postage cost, would be subject to UK VAT. See http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarduty?Taric=9601901000&SimDate=20060509&Action=1&ProdLine=80&Country=CN/0720&Type=0&Action=1&YesNo=1&Indent=-1&Flag=1&Test=tarduty&Periodic=0&Download=0&Lang=EN&Description=yes

and http://www.arkive.org/coral/Coral/antipatharia_more.html

[nickmo]

Do not buy it - as above, 'sustainable' from some sources is an easy selling tool and you are only supporting an illegal trade - same as buying fur. Not ethical, not needed, not worth the money and better where it should be originally....

Chances are that you only get a nice bit of black plastic anyway - as sold on beaches round the world as 'black coral'.......

[Bohne]

Please do NOT buy coral...