CheckImport or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species

AYou specimenmust isapply for a livingpermit or deadcertificate animalto orimport, plantexport or re-export any ofliving its parts, or andead itemplant madeor fromanimal these.(or Anany import,of exportits orparts) re-exportthat permit is anlisted officialby documentthe thatConvention confirmson youInternational canTrade movein aEndangered specimenSpecies thatof isWild listedFauna byand Flora (CITES.).

How to apply

YouUse should:

• use Species+ to checkfind out if your specimen comes from a species on the CITES list
• applylist. forSpecies anare import,listed exportaccording orto re-exporthow permitendangered usingthey are in the applywild. forAnnex aA CITESis permit servicethe –most thisstrictly newcontrolled digitallist serviceof replacesspecies CITESand forms

annex D the least.

AsYou partshould ofalso check if your application,specimen findis thesubject tradeto terman codeimport suspension.

You must getapply for a permit forto anyimport, speciesexport listedor onre-export annex A, B or C in Species+.specimens.

OtherHow permitsto and certificatesapply

YouFind canout applyhow to importapply annexfor CCITES specimens.permits Toand docertificates, thisincluding any fees you’ll need to get an import notification form by emailing APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or phoning 03000 200 301.pay.

Commercial use

If you plan to use anya specimen listed by CITES in annex A for commercial purposes, you must getcheck aif commercialyou usealso certificateneed (known as an Article 10 certificate). 

Ifcertificate you’refor importingcommercial anpurposes. annexYou A specimen to sell it, you may be able to get a permit that can be used instead of an Articleexemption 10 certificate. Please contact APHA for moresingle informationcommercial by emailing wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.use.

Check if you need an Article 10 certificate and how to apply.

Musical instruments, museums, art exhibitions and touring displays

In some cases, you may need to move CITES specimens across international borders several times. For example, endangered species or specimens that are part of a:

• touring orchestra
• museum exhibit
• art exhibition
• touring display or circus

If you’re travelling with your instrument as part of a touring orchestra,orchestra you must use the apply for a CITES permit service for each instrument containing CITES listed specimens. You do not have to pay for athe musical instrument certificate.permit.

Elephant ivory

IfContact youthe intendAPHA toteam tradefor orendangered moveplant elephantand ivory,animal readspecies the(CITES) guideif onyou’re dealingnot insure itemswhich containingtype ivoryof permit or madecertificate ofyou ivory.need.

Personal and household effects

In some specific circumstances, you do not need CITES documentation to move personal and household itemseffects that contain a CITES specimen. specimen.

You do not need a CITES permit for the following items if they are carried in your personal luggage and intended for personal use (allowance is per person): person):

• 125 grams of caviar (Acipenseriformes(Acipenseiformes spp), in containers that are individually marked in accordance with Article 66(6) 66(6)
• 3 rainsticks of Cactaceae spp spp
• 4 worked items containing Crocodyllia spp (excluding meat and hunting trophies)  trophies) 
• 3 shells of Queen conch (Strombus gigas) gigas)
• 4 dead specimens of seahorse (Hippocampus spp) spp)
• 3 specimens of giant clam (Tridacnidae spp) not more than 3kg in total, where a specimen can be one intact shell or 2 matching halves halves
• up to 1kg1 kg woodchips, 24ml24 ml oil, and 2two sets of beads or prayer beads (or 2two necklaces or bracelets) of agarwood (Aquilaria and Gyrinops species) species)

ContactIf APHAyou ifthink a personal or household item that you plan to import, export or re-export includes a personalCITES orspecimen, householdcontact itemthe thatAPHA youteam thinkfor includesendangered aplant CITESand specimenanimal byspecies emailing wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk(CITES).

Retrospective

Extra permits

Ifrules yourabout identifying controlled species

CITES specimensrules havestill enteredapply orto leftitems Greatif Britainthe:

• packaging orlists Northerna Irelandcontrolled withoutitem but the relevantpacket permits,does contactnot APHAcontain bya emailingspecimen wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk,or derivative - such as youa maytraditional needAsian tomedicine applylisting fortiger abone
• actual retrospectivespecies permit.

  Replacementis permits

  Younot known and the specimen can only applybe foridentified to a replacementhigher ifgroup yourthat officialincludes validatedcontrolled permitspecies is:

  • cancelled
  • lost
  • stolen
  • accidentally- destroyedsuch as Crocodylia (for all crocodiles, alligators and gharials) and Orchidaceae (for all orchids)

  Where the specimen cannot be identified as a specific species in a taxonomic group, APHA onlytreats issuesit replacementas permitsthe ifmost theprotected specimenspecies hasof that group.

  CITES rules do not leftapply orto enterednaturally Greatexcreted Britainurine, faeces and Northernambergris Ireland.because these are waste products.

  YouIf canyou’re onlynot applysure forwhether aCITES replacementrules permitapply byto emailingyour item, contact the APHA atteam wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.ukfor endangered plant and animal species (CITES).

  BeforeCustoms yourequirements receivefor yourCITES permititems

  UntilAll youCITES haveimport, export and re-export permits or certificates must be endorsed by customs authorities when they enter or leave Great Britain at the correctborder.

  UK CITESBorder Force (UKBF) permit,will youcheck shouldand not:endorse the documents. UKBF will keep the documents and send copies to APHA. Other copies are used to prove legal import or export of the specimen.

  You must present these documents to UKBF at the:

  • shipfirst orpoint travelof withentry specimens
  • makeinto anyGreat paymentsBritain for- specimensbefore the CITES goods are removed to a customs temporary storage facility
  • enterlast intopoint contractsof overexit specimensfrom Great Britain

  YouFor mustimports, check:you must:

  • theget requirements of the importappropriate ordocuments exportto countrysubmit byto contactingUKBF
  • attach the CITES authoritydocuments intravelling thatwith country
  • ifthe yourgoods specimento isthe subjectoutside toof anthe importparcel suspensionin (negativea opinion) sealed clear-plastic folder

  CheckRead with the guide for trading or moving CITES-listed managementspecimens authoritythrough UK ports and airports.

  If ofyou thedo countrynot ofidentify an import oras exportpart beforeof youCITES moverules, anyUK itemsBorder Force can seize the goods and take criminal action against you cannotand identify.anyone else involved.

  HowExport longby it takespost

  APHABefore reviewsyou eachpost applicationyour individuallyitem to a destination outside the UK, you must present your CITES permit and aimsspecimen to processUKBF yourat applicationa withinCITES 30designated days.point Yourof applicationentry mayand needexit (PoE) to be reviewedendorsed. byThis scientificincludes advisersmovements atbetween either:Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

  • All 3 copies of the RoyalCITES Botanicalpermit Garden,need Kewto –be forsecurely plants

  • attached to the Jointoutside Natureof Conservationthe Committeeparcel (JNCC)in –a forclear animals
  plastic folder.

  IfThe yourwhite applicationand isyellow accepted,copy you’llof getthe apermit printed,will signedbe andreturned stampedto permityou. orYou certificatewill need to put the white copy in the post.parcel Ifbefore yourposting applicationand iskeep refused,the APHAyellow willcopy sendas youyour aproof letterthe explainingpermits why.were presented for endorsement.

  After

  You youmust receivecomplete youra permit

  Aftercustoms youdeclaration receiveform yourCN22 permit,or you’llCN23. needThis to:

  • usedepends aon designatedthe pointvalue of entrythe oritem. exit
  • showYou yourcan CITESget documentsthese atforms thefrom borderany toPost UKOffice. BorderThe Force 
  customs declaration must include:
  • checka otherdescription customof controlsthe requiredgoods
  • the by HMRCvalue
  • findwhether outthey’re whatgifts youor needcommercial toitems

  You doalso whenneed tradinga or‘C&E moving83A CITES-listedlabel: specimensexported throughby UKpost portsunder customs and airportsexcise (including control’. importingYou orcan exportingget one by post)

  calling HMRC on 0300 200 3700.

  Importing

  For oradvice exportingon yourmovements species

  between Northern Ireland and Great Britain contact: BFPortTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk

  ThereFor aremore differentways processesto dependingcontact onHMRC, ifcheck youits planImports and exports: general enquiries page.

  Post moving from Great Britain to moveNorthern theIreland

  For CITES-listed speciesspecimens yourself,moving orfrom ifGreat youBritain plan to sendNorthern themIreland, byyour post.handling agent must move parcels through Belfast International airport.

  Import by post

  BeforeIf you’re importing CITES specimens by post, you apply,must checkmake sure that the guidancesender onfills howin to:and attaches to the items:

  • importcustoms anddeclaration exportform plantsCN22 andor plantCN23 products
  • import- liveyou animalscan orget animalthese productsfrom any post office
  • exportany liveCITES animalsdocuments or animal productsrequired
  • trade

  Although orthe movesender CITES-listedis specimensresponsible throughfor UKmaking portsa complete and airportsaccurate (includingdeclaration, importingyou orshould exportingmake bysure post)

Returnedit’s goods

done correctly.

IfUKBF yourchecks CITES specimenimports hasbefore beenthey exportedcan fromenter Greatthe BritainUK. butYou iswill rejectedbe byasked theto importingprovide country,your contact APHACITES atUK wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.ukimport topermit letbefore themUKBF knowreleases it’sthe beenspecimen.

Post rejected.moving You’llfrom needNorthern Ireland to getGreat Britain

For CITES documentsspecimens tomoving re-importfrom theNorthern itemsIreland intoto Great Britain.Britain your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast seaport.

MarkingRetrospective specimenspermits

You must markhave specimensthe accordingrelevant topermit Europeanbefore regulationyou Articleimport, 66export ofor ECre-export Rega 865/2006.CITES Thespecimen.

If markingyour neededCITES dependsspecimens onhave whatentered theor specimenleft is.

MostGreat liveBritain specimensor mustNorthern haveIreland onewithout of the following:

• anrelevant Internationalpermits, Organizationyou may need to apply for Standardizationa (ISO)retrospective compliant,permit. uniquelyThese numberedare microchip
• only granted in a uniquelyvery numbered,limited seamlessnumber closedof ringspecific and exceptional circumstances.

  Before you apply for birdsa (checkretrospective howpermit, toyou registermust andcontact markthe birdsAPHA ofteam preyfor endangered plant and animal species (CITES)

.

GetReturned helpgoods

If youyour needCITES furtherspecimen advicehas orbeen supportexported withfrom yourGreat application,Britain but is rejected by the importing country, contact APHAUK Border Force at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.ukCITESteam@homeoffice.gov.uk. to let them know it’s been rejected.