Feds Raid California Kilt Store

[Wompet]

As was discussed in a recent thread, not all seals are in danger of extinction, thus the importation of not all sealskins are prohibitied. Of course, it is conceivable that problems could arise if the agent on duty wasn't able to distinguish on the spot which was which.

The thread mentioned is here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/seal_sporrans-t42520/index.html
Gilmore hit the nail on the head. Field identification of hair-on-skin, especially on a finished product, is pretty much limited to family or maybe to genus - seal, rabbit, muskrat, badger, fox, cow, beaver, et cetera. (I did this at a SOKS kilt night. Ask Grant about my squirrel. ) If the agents from NOAA found sealskin sporrans, all they could do in the store is say "These are seal." Then they would take them back for laboratory identification of genus and possibly species. Alternatively, Celtic Craft Centre could provide documentation that the sporrans were either a) made of permitted species, or b) legally imported.
So, at this point, NOAA (and probably US FWS) have any sporrans they seized. Either they are shown to be illegal merchandise, in which case the store faces legal repercussions, or they are shown to be permitted, and the store gets its merchandise back.

[RockyR]

So, at this point, NOAA (and probably US FWS) have any sporrans they seized. Either they are shown to be illegal merchandise, in which case the store faces legal repercussions, or they are shown to be permitted, and the store gets its merchandise back.

What happens if they ARE shown to be seal, but were legally imported as bovine? What if the company SHIPPING them (in Scotland) shipped the wrong animal?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

What happens if they ARE shown to be seal, but were legally imported as bovine? What if the company SHIPPING them (in Scotland) shipped the wrong animal?

If they tried to pull as fast one (calling seal bovine) then someone is likely to face some jail time. If the shipper sent seal by mistake, then USC would probably destroy the sealskin sporrans as items prohibited entry into the US and issue a warning (with a possible fine attached) to the company in the UK that sent the goods to the USA.