Trading or moving CITES-listed specimens through designated UK ports and airports

Guide

Last updated 10 September 2024

You must apply for a permit or certificate to import, export or re-export a specimen of any species that is listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). A specimen is any living or dead plant or animal, or any of its parts, or an item made from these.

You need to import (bring in) or export (take out) CITES specimens through the designated land, sea and air ports.

Moving through customs

All CITES import, export and re-export permits or certificates must be presented to customs authorities when they enter or leave Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) at the border. This applies even if you are using a haulier or freight agent.

You must use designated land, sea and air ports for trading or moving CITES-listed endangered species.

UK Border Force will check and endorse the documents. UK Border Force will keep the documents and send copies to APHA. Other copies are used to prove legal import or export of the specimen.

CITES documents

There are 3 copies of the CITES permit, each in a different colour. These are the:

original permit in white with a grey patterned background
yellow copy for you to keep as proof that the permit was endorsed
green copy for customs

The permit may also have additional annexes.

Get your documents endorsed by UK Border Force

You must present the correct documents to UK Border Force 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

UK Border Force cannot check or endorse documents unless you have everything that they need. You must have the correct documents.

For imports, you must:

get the appropriate documents to submit to UK Border Force
attach CITES documents travelling with the goods to the outside of the parcel in a sealed clear-plastic folder
present the UK import permit and the original export or re-export permit to UK Border Force

After the import permit is endorsed, UK Border Force will keep the white copy of the import permit and the original export or re-export permit. You will keep the yellow copy of the permit.

If you are exporting or re-exporting, you need to present all 3 copies of the UK export permit to UK Border Force. After the permit is endorsed:

UK Border Force will keep the green copy
you will be given the yellow copy back and you must return it to the UK importer or exporter
you will be given the white copy back and you must put this with the goods being exported or re-exported so they accompany the shipment

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.

Trading or moving by post

Export by post

Follow these steps to export a CITES-listed specimen by post.

Complete a customs declaration form CN22 or CN23. The form you need depends on the value of the item. You can also get these forms from any Post Office. The customs declaration must include a description of the goods, the value and 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 or contacting them using their imports and exports: general enquiries page.
Before you post your item to a destination outside the UK, you must present your CITES permit and specimen to UK Border Force at a CITES designated point of entry and exit to be endorsed. This includes movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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.

Import by post

If you’re importing CITES specimens by post, the sender must make sure the documentation is completed and securely attached to the outside of the parcel. This includes:

customs declaration form CN22 or CN23
any CITES documents required

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

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

Moving CITES specimens from Northern Ireland to Great Britain by post

For CITES specimens moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain, your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast seaport.

For advice on movements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain contact: BFPortTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk.

CITES specimens entering Great Britain from the EU or Northern Ireland

You must use CITES-designated points of entry and exit to move CITES specimens between Great Britain and the EU.

When you move CITES specimens to and from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the import and export checks will all happen in Northern Ireland. This means you can use any point of exit from Great Britain, but you must use a CITES-designated point of entry and exit in Northern Ireland.

Additional port arrangements for roll on roll off (RoRo) services or Eurotunnel

There are additional arrangements if you’re using RoRo services or Eurotunnel.

Using RoRo services

You’re able to use RoRo services, for example car ferries, at the following ports:

Dover
Eurotunnel
Felixstowe
Harwich
Portsmouth

You need to stop and present your CITES documents to a customs official for endorsement.

You should check other custom controls required by HMRC. Read more about importing goods to the UK or exporting to the EU through RoRo services.

Importing and exporting CITES specimens through Eurotunnel

To import CITES specimens into Great Britain through Eurotunnel you must present your CITES documents for endorsement.

If you’re exporting specimens from Great Britain through Eurotunnel you must present your CITES documents to UK Border Force at a suitable designated point of entry and exit before you travel through Eurotunnel.

CITES species coming into the UK from outside the EU

For all CITES species that enter the UK from outside the EU (rest of world), different animal and plant health conditions apply.

You must check the guidance and use the correct point of entry and exit if you’re importing live animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin.

Read the guidance about border control posts (BCP) for animals and animal products.

Moving products of animal origin (POAO)

Before you import products of animal origin (POAO), you should check that the port or airport has the approvals and facilities to handle:

products for human consumption
products not for human consumption
chilled or frozen goods

Moving food not of animal origin

You can move food not of animal origin (FNAO) for human consumption or animal feed through designated points of entry or exit for high risk foods.

Moving controlled plants or plant products or forestry materials

Read the guidance about which ports or airports can handle the import and export of controlled plants and plant products or regulated forestry material.

Moving to approved inland facilities

You may also import controlled plants and plant specimens or regulated forestry material through any CITES-designated ports if they are going to approved inland facilities.

Use the guidance to understand the rules and documents needed:

Moving live animals and animal products

Live CITES animals and animal products can move through any CITES designated point of entry and exit.

If your live CITES animals or animal products are subject to welfare or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls and need extra documents or checks you must use a point of entry or exit with a BCP that can carry out SPS checks on your species. This includes movements of live animals or animal products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

You can only use Belfast port or Larne port to move live CITES animals from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Check the Border Operating Model for live animals and animal products subject to SPS controls.

CITES specimens transiting through Great Britain

You need CITES documents from each country if your specimen passes through Great Britain when moving between EU countries.

For example, to move a CITES specimen from France to the Republic of Ireland through Great Britain, you would need an:

export permit from France
import and re-export permit from the UK management authority
import permit from the Republic of Ireland

You must use a CITES designated point of entry and exit in the UK and present your documents to the UK Border Force.

If your specimen passes through GB when moving between a non-EU country (third country) and an EU country, you may be able to get a transit exemption so you do not need to get UK CITES documents.

Contact APHA for advice if your CITES specimen will transit through Great Britain by emailing wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Returned goods

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

You’ll also need to get CITES documents to re-import the items into Great Britain. Contact the APHA team for more details at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Contact Border Force

The Border Force office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Telephone: +44 (0)300 1060 732

Email: doverinternationaltrade@homeoffice.gov.uk

Contact APHA

You can contact APHA for support with trading or moving endangered animals or plants listed under CITES at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

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