The following is from an email written by an official from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service outlining what, exactly, is entailed in legally shipping animal parts internationally out of the U.S. While the original inquiry involved deer parts, it applies to wildlife parts in general. A couple of the URLs were outdated, so I replaced them with the updated ones:
"Thank you for your inquiry regarding the exportation of deer products that will require clearance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
"Since you intend to export these deer products for commercial purposes, consistent with our definition of commercial, regulations contained in Title 50, of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 14.91, require that you must obtain an import/export license prior to engaging in business as an importer or exporter of wildlife or wildlife products. The license is valid for one year from the date of issuance and costs $100.00. In addition, as an import/export license holder, you must pay inspection fees for each wildlife shipment imported or exported under the license. For information on inspection fees and how to calculate the inspection fees that you will be required to pay, please visit our website at http://www.fws.gov/
"Any wildlife shipment would be considered commercial if the shipment is being imported or exported " related to the offering for sale or resale, purchase, trade, barter, or the actual or intended transfer in the pursuit of gain or profit, of any item of wildlife and includes the use of any wildlife article as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting sales."
"You can view our complete definition of commercial at the following website: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=2a9652dc6b37e04aa0e7360c424f07e5&rgn=div8&view=text&node=50:1.0.1.2.8.1.7.4&idno=50
"You can find the application for an import/export license on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/permits/ImportExport/ImportExport.html
"An import/export license only authorizes the importation or exportation of wildlife or wildlife products in general terms. Please be advised that this license is in addition to, and not in place of, any other licenses or permits required for protected species of wildlife.
"Both the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianis, and the mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, are not protected species however, as you prepare to export these deer products out of the United States, you must complete Form 3-177, Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife. You can find this form on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/faqs.htm This form is not difficult to complete. .
"Please have this form completed and have it, a copy of your import/export license, and these deer products available for inspection as you prepare to export them out of the United States.
"You must export your deer products at a designated port. You can find a list of designated ports and contact information for those ports on our website at the following address: http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/Designated_Ports.htm We suggest that you contact in advance the port where you will be exporting your deer products in order to coordinate their clearance out of the United States.
"We also suggest that you contact the appropriate authorities in the European countries to determine whether deer products can be imported into those countries. You can find contact information for European country authorities at: http://www.cites.org/cms/index.php/lang-en/component/ncd/
"Thank you for your cooperation in complying with our regulations that help protect fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. Please feel free to respond to this message with any further inquiries that you may have regarding this matter."
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