CITES – trade and travel with endangered species

There are more than 5 600 species of animals and 30 000 species of plants worldwide that are threat­ened with extinction. The purpose of CITES – also known as the Washington Convention – is to ensure that no species of wild fauna and flora becomes subject to un­sustainable exploitation because of international trade. The convention on international trade in endangered species was adopted in 1973 to protect and preserve these species for the future and to ensure biological diversity.

CITES in the EU

In the EU, CITES is enforced through special regulations, which apply for the entire union. The aim of the regulations is to “protect species of wild animals and plants and ensure their conservation through restrictions of trade.” The EU Regulations contain more species and have stricter regulations than CITES. The regulated species are listed in the annexes of Council Regulation 338/97.

CITES in Sweden

Sweden signed the convention in August 1974 and the convention entered into force in July 1975. The Swedish Board of Agri­culture has an overall responsi­bility for CITES legislation in Sweden and offers support and training to the other CITES authorities in Sweden. It is also responsible for issuing CITES certificates for trade within the EU as well as import and export permits for CITES‑listed specimens of animals and plants. The Board also works to achieve a sustainable society; part of this effort involves adhering to CITES to ensure that wild fauna and flora are not endangered by unregulated trade.

The Swedish Board of Agri­culture is the administrative CITES authority and coordi­nates the practical implementation of CITES. We cooperate with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the Swedish Museum of Natural History, which are all the scientific authorities for CITES in Sweden. Moreover, we also collaborate with the operational authorities, which are the Swedish Customs Agency, the Swedish Police Authority, the Coast Guard, the Public Prosecution Service and the county administra­tive boards.

Wildlife trade into and from the EU

Permits, certificates or notifications are required for trade to and from the EU (import, export, re-export) in animal or plant species listed in one of the four Annexes (Annex A, B, C and D) of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97. The required documents will only be issued if certain conditions are met.

Specimens of Annex A species cannot be imported to be used for primarily commercial purposes.

Species with an import ban

There are certain species where the introduction into the European Union is restricted. This is decided after consultation with the concerned countries of origin and after taking into account any opinion of the Scientific Review group. The Suspensions Regulation is available at the end of this page.

Trade in Sweden and other EU member states

Generally, it is not allowed to use specimens of Annex A‑listed species for primarily commercial purposes. This includes

• the purchase,
• offer to purchase,
• acquisition for commercial purposes,
• display to the public for commercial purposes,
• use for commercial gain and sale,
• keeping for sale,
• offering for sale,
• transporting for sale.

This applies to both live and dead specimens, including all parts or derivatives thereof. Hybrid animals, where only one of the parents is a species listed in Annex A, are also subject to these controls. Sometimes, however, commercial trade in specimens of Annex A is allowed.

It is possible to apply for an exemption to the prohibition, a so called CITES certificate. In Sweden the applications are administered by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

• Apply for an exemption to the prohibition – in Swedish

Import, export, and re‑export of endangered animal and plant species between third countries and EU

The CITES‑regulation is based on a system of permits and certificates which can be issued if certain conditions are met. Such documents have to be presented before consign­ments of specimens are allowed to leave or enter a country.

The species are listed according to degree of protection

The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices according to the degree of protection they need.

Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circum­stances.

Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization in­compatible with their survival.

Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each Party’s is entitled to make unilateral amendments to it.

Stricter regulations in the EU

In the EU, CITES is enforced through special regulations, which apply for the entire union. The aim of the regulations is to “protect species of wild animals and plants and ensure their conservation through restrictions of trade.” The EU Regulations contain more species and have stricter regulations than CITES. The regulated species are listed in the annexes of Council Regulation 338/97.

For which species do the rules apply?

• Species threatened with extinction (EU annex A)
• Species which may become threatened with extinction (EU annex B)
• Species where the country of origin has decided to list the species to make it possible to regulate export (EU annex C)
• Species which are not in annex A‑C but which are imported into the EU to an extent sufficient to warrant monitoring (EU annex D)

Annex A‑C are only used by the EU and includes all the species listed in CITES annex I‑III. However, the EU Regulation includes additional species that are not listed in CITES. Therefore, there are species in listed in Annex A‑C of the EU regulation that are not listed in the CITES Annex I‑III.

The annexes of the EU regulation can be found at on the right hand side. The annexes also show if the species are listed in CITES annexes I‑III.

When a species is regulated, it means that all parts of the specimen are regulated, i.e. both live and dead animals or plants and parts or products from animals or plants. This applies even when they are part of another product, where at least one parent is listed in one of the annexes. The regulation also applies to products when it is specified in the product documentation, packaging, labelling, or in any other way that it contains parts or products from a listed species.

Import

Import is to bring a specimen to the EU from a country outside the EU, a so‑called third country.

Import of species listed in annex A and B

Import of species listed in annex A is strictly regulated and import of live animals and animal products belonging to species threatened with extinction is generally not allowed. In Sweden, applications for an exemption are administered by the Swedish Board of Agriculture in consultation with the Swedish Environ­mental Protection Agency. Also import of species listed in annex B is strictly regulated and permission is required.

To import species listed in CITES annex I‑III, an export or re‑export permit from the exporting country is required. If the species are not listed in CITES I‑III but is listed in Annex A or B of the EU‑regulation, written proof that the specimen is legally acquired is required. You also need an import permit from the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Please note that the import permit is only issued after a copy of a valid export permit from the CITES Authority in the country of export has been received by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

This means that you – or the exporter/re-exporter – must begin the procedure by contacting the CITES Management Authority in the country of export, and apply for a CITES export/re‑export permit. The permits (import and export or re-export) shall be presented, as originals, to the Customs.

For living specimens, the boarding location must also be approved by the Swedish Environ­mental Protection Agency.

• CITES Management Authorities

Import of wild‑caught animals listed in annex A is not allowed!

Import of specimens of species listed in Annex A is not allowed when the specimen or any of its parents are caught in the wild.

Exemptions can be granted for specimens which:

• are to be used for breeding purposes with the aim of improving the species’ chance of survival
• are to be used for research or education with the goal of conserving the species
• are procured for important biomedical research. The animals shall belong to the only suitable species for the research in question and it shall not be possible to procure animals that are born or raised in captivity.

The exemption is also dependent on approval of the boarding location from the Swedish Environ­mental Protection Agency in accordance with Swedish Animal Welfare regulations. If you at a later date want to transfer animals to a different location, the Swedish Board of Agriculture needs to approve of such a move. The permit will certify that the new boarding location is approved by the scientific authority in the receiving country or by the Swedish Environ­mental Protection Agency if the animal is staying in Sweden.

If an exemption to import wild‑caught animals is granted, a copy of an import permit is issued without an export permit. The importer receives a copy of this permit. The original of the import permit is not released until the applicant presents an export permit or a certificate for re‑export.

Import of species listed in annex C

To import species listed in Annex C, you must have a (re)export permit or certificate of origin and also submit an import notification form which is available at Customs.

Every species listed in Annex C is associated with a specific country in the species list. If you want to import a species listed in annex C from the country listed in the species list, you must always have an export or re‑export permit.

If you want to import a species from a country other than the country listed in the species list, a certificate of origin can replace the export or re‑export permit.

Import of species listed in annex D

To import species listed in Annex D, you must submit an import notification form which is available at Customs.

What is the difference between permit and notification?

Permits are always issued by the competent authority, which in Sweden is the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Notification is done by the importer, on a form available from Customs.

Additional require­ments according to Swedish disease control measures

Due to Swedish disease control reasons, in addition to CITES import permits there may be require­ments for veterinary or phyto­sanitary import permits,.

Veterinary import permits are required for certain live animals and animal products. The animal may also need to be quarantined for a time in certain cases. Also for disease control reasons, certain animals from some parts of the world are not allowed to be brought to Sweden.

Phyto­sanitary import permits may be required for plants and plant products.

For more information about veterinary or phyto­sanitary permits, call the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

• 0771‑223 223

Export and re-export

Export is to bring a specimen from the EU to a country outside the EU, a so‑called third country.

Re‑export is the export from the EU of a specimen that was previously imported into the EU. The country where the specimen was captured or raised is the country of origin.

Export and re‑export of species listed in annex A, B and C

Export and re‑export of live animals and animal products belonging to species listed in annex A‑C is strictly regulated and permission is always required.

To export or re‑export a specimen of a species listed in annex A‑C, you need an export- or re‑export permit, issued by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. To issue a permit, the Swedish Board of Agriculture needs to receive a written certificate that certifies

• that the specimen has been acquired legally
• if the specimen was taken from its natural environment in another EU country, it was done so legally
• for re‑export, that the specimen was legally imported to the EU

An import permit from the receiving country is also needed when the species is listed both in Annex A of the EU Regulation and in Annex I of the CITES list and the receiving country has adopted CITES.

Marking and labelling of specimens listed in Annex A

Export- and re‑export permits for living vertebrates listed in Annex A can only be issued when animals are marked in accordance with article 66 in Council Regulation 338/97. Usually this entails marking with ISO‑standardized microchips except for birds which are usually marked with an individually marked closed ring.

Export and re‑export of species listed in annex D

No permission or documentation is required when exporting or re‑exporting species listed in annex D.

How to apply for a CITES permit

You apply for a CITES export, re‑export and import permit at the Swedish Board of Agriculture. There are two alternatives when applying:

• You apply online via our e-service, which is only available in Swedish. You pay the application fee of 1100 SEK with your credit card in the online e‑service.

• E-service: CITES export and re-export permit – in Swedish

• E-service: CITES import permit – in Swedish
  

• You apply via an application form in English. The application fee of 1100 SEK must be paid in advance to the Swedish Board of Agriculture’s bank giro service account 5693‑2486. Please label your payment with the code 14006 (CITES) and don’t forget to write your name and address. It is also possible to pay by check (except Eurocheck). Proof of payment must be attached to the application.

• Application form for import, export and re‑export permit

You can send your application form to the Swedish Board of Agriculture in the following ways:

Mailing address:
Jordbruksverket / the Swedish Board of Agriculture
S-551 82 Jönköping
Sweden

E-mail:

• registrator@jordbruksverket.se

Don’t forget to sign your application!

How long does the processing of the application take?

We start to process the application as soon as we have received a complete application and proof of payment. We send the applications to the Swedish Environ­mental Protection Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management for consultation. Sometimes we need to consult with other parties in Sweden, and/or with other countries. The processing time is usually about one month provided that the information was complete when the application was sent in. During certain periods of time, when we receive many applications at the same time, it may take longer than one month.

Validity of the CITES permit

Permits issued by the Swedish Board of Agriculture are normally valid for six months from the date they are issued. Import permits however are only valid in combination with a valid export or re‑export permit.

General information

Special information regarding CITES‑listed plants

The regulations apply, generally, to both living plants and dead specimens, to whole plants as well as parts of plants (seeds, spores, pollen and pollen sacs, plants, dried plants, cut flowers, bulbs, etc.) and derivatives, such as juices and powders. Both wild and cultivated specimens are regulated. Exemptions from these regulations are listed below.

Hybrids are generally treated the same as the most restricted parent species.

Artificially reproduced specimens from A‑listed species shall be treated as B‑listed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to prove that the specimen is artificially reproduced.

Personal belongings and simplified rules for import and export for businesses, institutions and organizations

Personal belongings, house­hold items and hunting trophies

There are some few exceptions for personal belongings, household items, and hunting trophies. Please contact us for further information.

Simplified rules for businesses, institutions and organizations

Under certain circum­stances import, export or re‑export can be allowed for example research samples through a simplified procedure.

Certificate for mobile exhibition

A certificate for circuses and other mobile exhibitions, for example herbaria or insect-exhibitions, can now be issued by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. These certificates functions as both import- and (re)export‑permits and as certificates to exhibit threatened species to the public. They are also valid for multiple border crossings for the duration of the certificate. To be issued this type of certificate, the specimen must be born and raised in captivity, or artificially reproduced, or legally acquired in or imported into the European Union before the species was listed. Living animals must be correctly identified and marked. Specimens other than live animals must be identified and labelled in a way that makes it possible for the authorities to verify that the certificate corresponds to the specimen that is being imported or exported.

Facilitated trade with biological samples and (re)export of dead specimens

Through an approval- and registration process, persons or organizations can under certain circum­stances be given the oppor­tunity to receive partially filled out permits and certificated in advance. The purpose of this is to facilitate trade with certain biological samples and dead specimens in those cases where the authorities have determined that the trade does not negatively affect the species.

Certificate for sample collection

The Swedish Board of Agriculture can issue a so called “certificate for sample collection” which together with a valid ATA Carnet replaces CITES‑certificate, import‑permit and, if the receiving country allows for ATA Carnets, (re)export‑permit. A sample collection is defined as a collection of legally acquired dead CITES‑specimens which are transported across national borders for exhibition purposes.

Additional regulations

Additional restrictions for birds, eggs, etc.

In addition to the CITES‑regulations, there are regulations in the Swedish Species Protection Regulation that apply to living birds and eggs containing embryos of species living wild within the EU territory and for other living birds of species listed in the Swedish Species Protection Regulation. For the species listed in the Swedish Species Protection Regulation, there is generally no import, export, re-export, keeping of live animals, or sale of animals allowed. There are general and specific exemptions from these regulations. More information is available in the Swedish Species Protection Regulation.

The Swedish Animal Welfare Law

The Swedish Welfare Law has additional regulations for the transport and keeping of animals. It also forbids keeping certain groups of animals as pets. For more information please call the Animal Welfare unit or read about animal welfare on our website the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

• 0771‑223 223

Legislation

• EU Regulation on trade in wild fauna and flora
• EU Regulation on trade in wild fauna and flora, detailed rules
• EU Regulation prohibiting the import of certain species
• Ordinance om the protection of species – in Swedish

You might also be interested in this

• Bringing live animals to and from Sweden – rules that you need to comply in addition to CITES
• Bringing plants or plant products to Sweden – rules that you need to comply in addition to CITES
• Swedish Custom offices for import, export and re‑export of CITES-listed species – in Swedish

• Speciesplus.net
• CITES.org
• Text of the Convention
• The European Union and Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora
• Member states of the EU