Hi there, just wondering if any other NZ Midiboxers have ever ordered midibox kits from overseas.
I -think- I have shipped there before, I’ll check later today …
The NZ customs website says that PCB’s cannot be imported but when ringing to check about this I was told it wasn’t a problem as long as I paid the taxes.
They are probably talking about a group of toxic substances with the same initials/name. (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)
See: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pcb/
In short:
Once used in and created by the production of electrical, plastics, rubber,dye, etc.
Was used like a filler chemical in a lot of things…Coolant in large mains power transformers, all the way down to catalyst binder in common electrolytic capacitors.
In the 70’s it was found to cause a whole host of health problems ranging from cancer to genetic damage. It’s use, creation, and disposal are now tightly regulated by most countries.
Digging around on the NZ customs site, in this list of prohibited imports it lists “PCBs and crayons - Control the importation of toxic substances - Environmental Risk Management Authority - Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996”
Complete info about that specific law: http://www.hsno.govt.nz/index.html
After encountering this misunderstanding with many people and talking to some nice people at the EPA and US postal service, I can safely say they are talking about the bad chemicals, not my friendly little (but fairly toxic in thier own right) circuit boards. ;D
Also proof that politicians are mostly a lazy bunch that can’t be bothered to write clear legislation… :o
Best!
Smash
