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Policy & Compliance
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species is controlled through a global system of import/export permits which can be obtained from the respective importing and exporting management authorities. Permits are issued following checks on the legality and sustainability of the trade of the species in question. Post-Brexit arrangements All CITES specimens that previously were freely moved between Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU now require CITES permits, or an import notification. CITES-listed species moved into or out of Britain, or between Britain and Northern Ireland, must travel with import/(re)export permits, as between the UK and non-EU countries. These movements must occur through one of the 36 CITES-designated land, sea and airports, with permits endorsed by UK Border Force on entry or exit. Be aware that it is impossible to endorse permits away from the border, or retrospectively. You cannot legally trade CITES specimens which entered the UK without endorsed permits. Responsibilities Incorrectly imported or exported goods may be liable to seizure and/or prosecution and so care should be taken to follow the correct procedure and ensure everyone involved in the trade, including agents or couriers, is aware of their responsibilities. There are criminal offences associated with moving or trading CITES-controlled specimens if you do not have a valid permit or certificate. The maximum penalty is a seven-year prison sentence and an unlimited fine. The up-to-date list of the ports is available on the following GOV.UK page: www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-cites-listed- specimens-through-uk-ports-and-airports. Species are added to, removed from, or moved between appendices every three years at a Conference of Parties (CoP). This allows CITES rules to react to the changing risk for species of over-exploitation as a result of international trade. Therefore, it is important to routinely check whether the
Movement of goods under CITES permits BIFA has been contacted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with the following information relating to the movement of goods covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Defra has advised that there has been an increase in CITES permits not being endorsed on entry to Britain and, as a result, plants and bulbs are being seized in high numbers both at the border and inland due to the specimens not having permits, or having permits that were not endorsed on entry. These imports cannot be legally traded or re-exported, and there is no way of retrospectively endorsing them, resulting in substantial losses for importers. It is important that information is passed to drivers and that they understand the importance of CITES permits being endorsed on entry and exit. Background CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,
specimens you work with are subject to any new regulations. You can find information about CITES and the species currently listed under CITES here: https://cites.org/eng
regulates more than 35,000 endangered animal and plant species. This agreement, which is in force in most countries globally, regulates the movement and trade of endangered animals and plants, including their parts and derivatives, to ensure that trade does not threaten their survival. The movement and trade of endangered
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November 2022
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