Goods Across Borders · Customs rule card
Taxidermy → Philippines
Purpose: Traveling · Verified: 2026-08-22
Taxidermy may require documentation or declaration
Details
Taxidermy may require documentation or declaration. Enforcement in Philippines carries fines from PHP 5,000 to PHP 500,000 under Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) 2016 s.1400 (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 Bureau of Customs (BOC); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving Philippines with taxidermy is a separate question: restricted — Taxidermy export from Philippines depends on the species — CITES-listed specimens need export permits; common non-protected species need provenance paperwork.
Documentation required
- Documentation may be required
Leaving with this item
Taxidermy export from Philippines depends on the species — CITES-listed specimens need export permits; common non-protected species need provenance paperwork.
Practical advice
Philippines restricts import of Taxidermy. 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
Bureau of Customs (BOC) · https://customs.gov.ph