CBSA has re-issued Customs Notice 17-17 with an update on June 18, 2018 on the import requirements of salamanders requiring an import permit.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) implemented import restrictions on all species of salamanders entering Canada for a one year period in May 2017. On May 12, 2018, ECCC amended Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations (WAPTR) to make these restrictions permanent.
Salamanders are prohibited from entering Canada unless accompanied by a permit to import injurious wildlife issued by ECCC. The import restrictions by ECCC do not apply to other amphibians (toads, frogs, and caecilians).
“Salamanders” means all species of the Order Caudata, which is in the Class Amphibia (amphibians), and includes axolotl, newts, mudpuppies, waterdogs, hellbender, olm, ensatinas, sirens, amphiumas, and all other types of salamanders, whether live or dead.
In addition to the injurious wildlife import permit, species of salamanders protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) must also be accompanied by the required CITES permit(s).
Live salamanders are to be reported to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) under Harmonized System (HS) Code for live amphibians (HS: 0106.90.00.20).
For reference purposes, the following is a non-inclusive list of commonly imported species of salamanders that can no longer be imported into Canada without an import permit issued by ECCC,: Ambystoma mexicanum (axolotl), Cynops orientalis (Chinese fire belly newt), Cynops pyrrhogaster (Japanese fire belly newt), Necturus maculosus (waterdog; mudpuppy), Pachytriton brevipes (paddletail fire newt), Paramesotriton chinensis (fire newt), Paramesotriton hongkongensis (giant rock lizard; alpine newt), Pleurodeles waltl (Iberian or Spanish ribbed newt), Salamandra salamandra (European fire salamander), Taricha granulosa (Oregon newt),Taricha torosa (orange belly newt), Trituroides hongkongensi (fire newt), and Triturus granulosus (Oregon newt).
Learn more on ECCC Salamanders permitting policy, application form and obtaining an import permit.