Can't say I've made Felix's experiences: I've never had problems and
rarely funny looks -- a bit of patient explanation does the job.
That's when flying with the dry shipper myself, so not quite what you
asked; but I carry along a letter with nice departmental & university
letter-head and important-looking signature, along the lines pasted at
the bottom.
phx
On 06/11/2012 21:32, Felix Frolow wrote:
Jim, dottore...
Starting back traveling to synchrotrons in the beginning of 80 I say, do not
volunteer information, more magic words you say, more papers you fetch, more
faxes you send in advance
more they will torture you. You do not need custom declaration anywhere (at
least in Europe), in states I would drive
We have send a fax with a full description of Polaroid 3000ASA in 1992 in
Heathrow, and they ( security, I was ready to take them apart) burn these
sensitive films on the purpose by X-rays
on our way to Photon Factory.
Many years after that in 2008, one of these people (I have very good memory)
again in Heathrow told me - you have two choices - either irradiation or
invasive check, and we will not be gentle.
I choose irradiation. I will met him next time in a bar or a pub and will
take very nice care of him :-)
DO NOT VOLUNTEER INFORMATION, IT WILL BE AGAINST YOU….
If it is written non-infectious, they will read infectious, you will write
non-hazardous - they will read hazardous, you will say lysozyme - they will
read anthrax….
And the most terrible thing for you will be if they will apply frontal check,
not selection which you may snick, but total check.
Just go forward, take another person with you, takes doubles, go to different
check-in points, system is working sporadically, increase your chance by
multiplication
FF
Dr Felix Frolow
Professor of Structural Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular
Microbiology and Biotechnology
Tel Aviv University 69978, Israel
Acta Crystallographica F, co-editor
e-mail: mbfro...@post.tau.ac.il
Tel: ++972-3640-8723
Fax: ++972-3640-9407
Cellular: 0547 459 608
On Nov 6, 2012, at 22:25 , Jim Pflugrath <jim.pflugr...@rigaku.com> wrote:
I was asked by our shipping folks what we should put on the Customs Declaration
so that samples that we ship or that are shipped to us (in dewars, styrofoam
boxes, and/or padded envelopes) would not be held up in Customs.
I had them put:
"Scientific samples of less than 1 mg of non-infectious, non-hazardous protein. No
health hazard."
but it has been so long that I have had to do so. I suppose I could name the
exact protein, (e.g. hen egg white lysozyme), but maybe that is not a good idea.
What wording do folks put on these forms nowadays? What works? Do I need to
put the buffer components?
Thanks for responses.
Jim
-----------------------------------------------------
This letter relates to the Dry Shipper being transported by XXXX on
<AIRLINE> flight <CODE> to/from the <SYNCHROTRON>, <COUNTRY> from the
<UNIVERSITY>.
The package contains frozen protein crystals produced by the <INSITUTE>
as part of a <RANDOM INITIATIVE>.
These *non-toxic and non-hazardous proteins *were isolated
from*/Escherichia coli/* using molecular biology recombinant
techniques**as research samples for structural studies. *The samples DO
NOT contain any animal or viral products in accordance with NCIE
guidelines (reference: GUIDELINES FOR IMPORTATION #1114) and DO NOT have
any biological activity*.
In order to maintain the integrity and scientific value of the samples,
they *SHOULD NOT* be removed from the container or left at room
temperature, as this will change the temperature balance in the
samples.Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the
destruction of several months of scientific work.The container has been
designed to maintain the samples at low temperature for the duration of
the flight
