Commercial use of endangered species: check if you need ana Article 10 CITES certificate

When you need a certificate

You must have a commercial use certificate,(Article known10 asor an Article 1060) certificate, for any specimen listed by CITES specimen listed in annexAnnex A that you plan to:

• use for commercial gain in any way
• keep for sale
• offer for sale
• transport for sale
• display to the public for commercial purposes
• breed from to sell individual offspring, even if you do not plan to sell the parents (which must be uniquely and permanently marked according to regulations)

Use the search on Species+ to check if your specimen is listed in Annex A.

A specimen is a living or dead animal or plant or(or any of its parts –or derivatives), or an item made from these.

BeforeCheck which certificate you applyneed

In most cases, you should apply for an Article 10 certificate, which covers an individual specimen. 

If you’re a scientific institution, you can instead apply for an Article 60 certificate, which covers all relevant Annex A specimens in your collection at a specific site. You mustcan checkonly apply if you intend to use all specimens for either: 

• captive breeding or artificial propagation that add conservation benefit for the species 

• research or education to preserve or conserve the species

Exemptions for Article 10 certificates

Annex B specimens

You do not need aan Article 10 certificate to own or trade in specimens of species listed in Annex B of the CITES permitregulations. However, you must be able to give evidence that you got the specimens lawfully. 

Single commercial use exemption 

If you’re applying for an import orpermit exportfor endangeredan speciesAnnex A specimen, you can ask APHA for special permission to allow you the first sale of the specimen, without an Article 10 certificate. You must make sure the specimen is marked properly before it’s imported. 

You must return expired permits to APHA. 

Before you apply

Getting a CITES permit

You must check if you also need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species. 

Tigers, bear and rhinos: checking additional measures (stricter controls)

You must check if stricter controls apply to your specimen. Before you apply for your commercial use certificate, read the guidance on additional measures on the Check if you need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species page.

Marking species

You must mark specimens according to European regulation Article 66 of ECCommission RegRegulation (EC) No 865/2006. The marking needed depends on what the specimen is.

Most live specimens must have one of the following:

• an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliant, uniquely numbered microchip
• a uniquely numbered seamless closed ring for birds – check how to register and mark birds of prey

If you need help marking specimens, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Buying endangered species 

Before you buy aan speciesAnnex that is listed under annex A inspecies, the CITES list, you must make sure the seller has aone of the following valid documents before applying for a certificate:

• an Article 10 certificate
• an orArticle 60 certificate
• a CITES import permit that allows a single commercial sale. 
  sale

Apply

If forthe specimen is covered by an Article 1060 certificate, you must also have an Article 60 certificate. This means you need to meet the criteria to apply.

Apply for a certificate 

Use the apply for a CITES permit service to apply for an Article 10 or Article 60 certificate.

APHA  and the relevant UK scientific authority will review any applications and decide whether to issue a certificate.

How long it takes 

APHA aims to process your application within 30 days. Your application will be assessed based on review by scientific advisers at: 

• the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew – for plants 
• the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) – for animals 

If your application is accepted, you’ll get a printed, signed and stamped permit or certificate in the post.

If your application is refused, APHA will send you a letter explaining why. 

TypesIf ofyou’re granted an Article 10 certificates certificate

Depending on APHA’s assessment of your application, you will either get a Specimen Specific Certificate (SSC) or a Transaction Specific Certificate (TSC).Certificate.

Specimen Specific Certificates Certificates (SSCs)

APHA issues SSCs for a specimen (not a permit holder)holder), which must stay with the specimen for its life. You must give the SSC to the person buying the specimen at the time of the first sale and all future sales. specimen. 

You can apply for an SSC for an individual specimen. SSCs are valid for all commercial use, no matter who owns the specimen, unless the description of the specimen on the certificate changes. 

SSCs issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are only valid for use in Great Britain. Existing SSCs issued by either the UK or an EU member state on or before 31 December 2020, and located in Great Britain, continue to be valid in Great Britain. 

SSCs issued in Northern Ireland are valid for use in Northern Ireland and the EU. Existing SSCs issued by either the UK or an EU member state on or before 31 December 2020, and located in Northern Ireland, are valid in Northern Ireland and the EU. 

APHA only issues SSCs if: 

• the specimen was introduced into the UK or the EU before it was listed in annex A or it was legally imported after that date 
• the specimens are captive bred, which means they were born in captivity to 2 generations or beyond (captive breeding involves more than just breeding in a cage, aviary or enclosure – if you’re not sure, email APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk) 
• the specimens must be uniquely and permanently marked according to regulations 

Transaction Specific Certificates Certificates (TSCs)

APHA may issue a TSC for an individual specimen to a specific holder if the specimen: 

• does not meet the criteria to be issued with an SSC 
• is not correctly marked 

TSCs are only valid for the person or business named on the certificate. 

You will see a statement on the TSC telling you what you can use it for. This might be for: 

• one sale only by the person named on the certificate, from the address shown 
• educational display, no sale 
• breeding, no sale 

The person buying the specimen must then apply for a new certificate if they plan to use the specimen for any commercial purpose. 

Returning a certificate when you sell 

When you sell a specimen, you must make sure that you: 

• show the new owner your Article 10 certificate and reference number, or give them a photocopy of your certificate clearly marked with ‘copy for information only’ 
• return the TSC to APHA immediately after passing the specimen over to another person 

If you cannot give the new owner a copy of the Article 10 certificate, you can give them an invoice quoting the number on the certificate. 

OtherIf restrictions 

Tigers,you’re bearsgranted andan rhinos:Article stricter60 controls 

certificate

ThereYou’ll only be areable someto sell, exceptionsexchange toor theloan specimens usualcovered CITESby controls.the InArticle the60 UK,certificate to stricteranother measuresArticle apply60 tocertificate theholder.  

Article following60 species: certificates are valid: 

• tigersfor (Pantheraup tigris)to and5 anyyears, partsif issued on or derivatives after 23 June 2026 
• bearuntil 22 (Ursidae)June –2031, bile,if pawsissued andbefore gall23 bladders 
• rhinoJune (Rhinocerotidae)2026 without an expiry and rhino horn date 

IfAPHA will youinvite holders intendof tocertificates tradewithout oran moveexpiry specimensdate to fromapply anyfor ofreplacement thesecertificates species,in youstages. They will mustcontact emailyou APHAto beforelet you applyknow atwhen wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.to apply.

Ivory 

Other restrictions: Ivory

ReadYou’ll thealso guideneed onto dealingmeet inseparate itemsrules containing ivory or made of ivory if you intend to trade or move ivory (teeth or tusks, and items made from them) from any of the following species:

• elephant
• common hippopotamus
• killer whale
• narwhal
• sperm whale

Exemptions 

YouRead dothe notguide needon andealing Articlein 10items certificatecontaining toivory own or trademade in specimens of species listed in annex B of the CITES regulations. However, you must be able to give evidence that you got the specimens lawfully. ivory.

Single

Get commercial use exemption 

help 

If you’re applying for an import permit for an annex A specimen, you canneed askhelp APHAwith foryour specialapplication, permissioncontact to allow you the first sale of the specimen, without an Article 10 certificate. You must make sure the specimen is marked properly before it’s imported. 

You must return expired permits to APHA. 

The specimen’steam newat owner must get an Article 10 certificate if they want to use the specimen commercially. wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Special exemptions