Goods Across Borders · Customs rule card
Feathers & Plumage → France
Purpose: Traveling · Verified: 2026-08-22
Feathers & Plumage restricted; documentation or permits may apply
Details
Feathers & Plumage restricted; documentation or permits may apply. Documentation: Check destination requirements. Enforcement in France carries fines from EUR 250 to EUR 5,000 under Code des douanes Art. 411, Art. 412 (ordinary personal cases are handled as civil infringements). Restricted status means compliant carriage is achievable with the right paperwork and quantities; the practical risks are seizure, duty, and delay rather than criminal liability for a good-faith traveller. Arrival checks are carried out by Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving France with feathers & plumage is a separate question: restricted — Feather export from France depends on the species — most wild-bird feathers are protected under CITES or national bird laws; farmed and craft feathers move freely.
Documentation required
- Check destination requirements
Leaving with this item
Feather export from France depends on the species — most wild-bird feathers are protected under CITES or national bird laws; farmed and craft feathers move freely.
Practical advice
France restricts import of Feathers & Plumage. Cultural-property protection is bilateral: both origin export rules and destination import rules apply. Carry provenance documentation demonstrating lawful acquisition and (where applicable) origin-country export licence. Museum-loan and dealer-import categories operate under separate frameworks with pre-approved dealer registration.
Customs authority
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) · https://www.douane.gouv.fr