Import or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit

Guide

Last updated 18 January 2024

You must apply for a permit or certificate to import, export or re-export any animal or plant species, and their parts or derivatives, that are on the CITES list. This includes if you move CITES specimens between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the EU, and GB and Northern Ireland (NI).

Use Species+ to find out if your specimen is on the CITES list.

Species are listed according to how endangered they are in the wild. Annex A is the most strictly controlled list of species and annex D the least.

You should also check if your specimen is subject to an import suspension.

You must apply for a permit to import, export or re-export annex A, B or C specimens.

If you plan to use a specimen for commercial purposes, you must check if you also need an Article 10 certificate for commercial purposes. You may be able to get an exemption for single commercial use.

Find out how to apply for CITES permits and certificates, including any fees you’ll need to pay.

Unless you have the correct CITES documentation, you should not:

  • enter into contracts over specimens
  • make payments for their purchase
  • ship specimens

You’ll need to:

  • use a designated point of entry or exit
  • show your CITES documents to Border Force
  • check other custom controls required by HMRC

Read the guide for trading CITES-listed specimens through UK ports and airports.

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 part of a touring orchestra and only plan to travel with a single instrument, you can use the FED0172 certificate to apply for a musical instrument certificate. Make sure you state that you’re applying to move a single musical instrument. There’s no charge for this kind of permit.

If you’re travelling with multiple instruments or specimens, you must apply for a CITES travelling exhibition certificate.

Find out how to apply for CITES permits and certificates.

Contact APHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol if you’re unsure about which type of permit or certificate you need.

Personal and household effects

In some specific circumstances, you do not need CITES documentation to move personal and household effects that contain a CITES 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):

  • 125 grams of caviar (Acipenseiformes spp), in containers that are individually marked in accordance with Article 66(6)
  • 3 rainsticks of Cactaceae spp
  • 4 worked items containing Crocodyllia spp (excluding meat and hunting trophies) 
  • 3 shells of Queen conch (Strombus gigas)
  • 4 dead specimens of seahorse (Hippocampus 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

If you think a personal or household item that you plan to import, export or re-export includes a CITES specimen, contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species (CITES).

Eels

Contact APHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol for advice if you plan to export or import European eels.

Extra rules about identifying controlled species

CITES rules still apply to items if the:

  • packaging lists a controlled item but the packet does not contain a specimen or derivative - such as a traditional Asian medicine listing tiger bone
  • actual species is not known and the specimen can only be identified to a higher group that includes controlled species - such 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 treats it as the most protected species of that group.

CITES rules do not apply to naturally excreted urine, faeces and ambergris as these are waste products.

Contact APHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol if you’re unsure if CITES rules apply to your item.

Customs requirements for CITES items

All CITES import, export and re-export permits or certificates must be endorsed by customs authorities when they enter or leave Great Britain.

UK Border Force (UKBF) will check and 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:

  • first point of entry into Great Britain - before the CITES goods are removed to a customs temporary storage facility
  • last point of exit from Great Britain

For imports, you must:

  • get the appropriate documents to submit to UKBF
  • attach CITES documents travelling with the goods to the outside of the parcel in a sealed clear-plastic folder

If you do not identify an import as part of CITES rules, UK Border Force can seize the goods and take criminal action against you and anyone else involved.

Export by post

Before you post your item to a destination outside the UK, you must present your CITES permit and specimen to UKBF at a CITES designated point of entry and exit (PoE) to be endorsed. This includes movements between GBand NI.

All 3 copies of the CITES permit need to be securely attached to the outside of the parcel in a clear plastic folder.

The white and yellow copy of the permit will be returned to you. You will need to put the white copy in the parcel before posting and keep the yellow copy as your proof the permits were presented for endorsement.

You must complete a customs declaration form CN22 or CN23. This depends on the value of the item. You can get these forms from any Post Office. The customs declaration must include:

  • a description of the goods
  • the value
  • whether they’re gifts or commercial items

You also need a ‘C&E 83A label: exported by post under customs and excise control’. You can get one by calling HMRC on 0300 200 3700.

For advice on movements between NI and GB contact: BFPortTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk

For more ways to contact HMRC, check their Imports and exports: general enquiries page.

Post moving from GB to NI

For CITES specimens moving from GB to NI, your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast International airport.

Import by post

If you’re importing CITES goods by post, you must make sure that the sender fills in and attaches to the items:

  • customs declaration form CN22 or CN23 - you can get these from any post office
  • any CITES documents required

Although the sender is responsible for making a complete and accurate declaration, you should make sure it’s done correctly.

UKBF checks CITES imports before they can enter the UK. You will be asked to provide your CITES UK import permit before UKBF releases the specimen.

Post moving from NI to GB

For CITES specimens moving from NI to GB your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast seaport.

Retrospective permits

You must have the relevant permit before you import, export or re-export a CITES specimen. You can only apply for a retrospective permit under very specific and exceptional circumstances.

Before you apply for a retrospective permit, you must contact CPHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol.

Returned goods

If your CITES specimen has been exported from GB but is rejected by the importing country, contact UK Border Force at CITESteam@homeoffice.gov.uk to let them know it’s been rejected.

You’ll also need to get CITES documents to re-import the items into GB. Contact APHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol for more details.

Contact APHA

If you’re unsure about your application or do not know what fee to pay, contact APHA Centre for International Trade: Bristol.