Import/Export Restrictions

Mineral Matters #387

Individual countries have their own set of restrictions or prohibitions on the import or export of minerals. It seems that in the past, I may have sent or received some items that are currently restricted.

So what are the main ones (from an Australian perspective) that impact mineral collectors? The details below are from the Australian Border Force. More detail can be found on their website here. For some items, you can apply for a permit (a Certificate of exemption), but it is an expensive exercise. Other countries will have a similar organisation or department.

Diamonds

The importation of rough diamonds is prohibited under regulation 4MA of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, unless:

• the diamonds are transported in a tamper resistant container,

• exported from a country that is a participant of the KP and has issued a KP Certificate for the rough diamonds, and

• the original certificate is produced to a Collector at or before the time of importation

The importation of rough diamonds must be declared regardless of the value or the method of importation.

Kimberley Process Certificates it is then!

Radioactive Minerals

Radioactive substances are prohibited from import into Australia. This includes any radioactive material or substance including radium, any radioactive isotope or any article containing radioactive material or substance.

Many uranium-bearing minerals, particularly in boxed micros, won’t rate on a detector. This is probably why specimens have arrived here in the past without issue (or they just haven’t been tested). But it looks like, technically, NO radioactive specimens are allowed to be imported. This would be overkill in my view.

Mercury

Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that can have harmful effects on people, ecosystems, and wildlife. Australia is a party to The Minamata Convention on Mercury which aims to protect human health and the environment from mercury pollution, in part by restricting the manufacture, trade and use of mercury at a global level.

The importation of elemental mercury is prohibited unless permission has been granted.

I suspect that this relates to (eg) bottles of mercury. Minerals containing mercury compounds such as cinnabar are ok, but sometimes native mercury is also present on these specimens. I don’t know if this would be seen as an issue.

Cultural Heritage Items

Cultural heritage objects, also known as cultural property, include objects such as:

• objects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage

• artefacts and archaeological objects

• fine or decorative art

• fossils, meteors and objects of natural science

• historical documents and objects

• numismatic and philatelic material

• objects of applied science or technology.

Planning to export significant mineral specimens can come under the “natural science” objects. But I believe there needs to be an intervention at the time to enact this. Someone needs to certify that is fits into this category.

Asbestos

Asbestos means the asbestiform varieties of mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine or amphibole groups of rock forming minerals including the following:

• actinolite asbestos

• grunerite (or amosite) asbestos (brown)

• anthophyllite asbestos

• chrysotile asbestos (white)

• crocidolite asbestos (blue)

• tremolite asbestos

• a mixture that contains one or more of the minerals referred to above.

Wow! This could put a dent in some packages!

Let me know if you have experienced issues due to these sorts of regulations.

Below: Diamond, Panna Mines, India. 5mm wide.