Ben Hess, Senior Registrar for the EEB Museums, recently shared his expertise on how the EEB Museums review regulations and coordinate with federal agencies to ensure compliance prior to importing biological materials. He spoke during a workshop hosted by U.S. Customs & Border Protection in collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Environment, Health & Safety office.


The workshop brought together representatives from multiple federal agencies to provide guidance on the proper procedures for importing biological specimens. Hess’s presentation, Enhancing Your Early Notification Communication, emphasized the importance of monitoring compliance, educating involved parties on relevant regulations and guidelines, and managing permits effectively.


As part of his talk, Hess highlighted recent examples of biological material imports, including cases involving Ph.D. students Yu Kai Tan and Diana Carolina Vergara, as well as a field expedition by EEB Ph.D. candidates Juan Albornoz-Garzón and Benjamin Nicholas. In each scenario, specimens were transported back to the United States in compliance with all relevant regulatory protocols.