What the Law says

The trade in endangered species is strictly controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is an international agreement which has been signed by more than 160 countries, including the UK, each of which has a responsibility to implement and enforce trade controls.

Under CITES, different species are given different levels of protection, depending upon how seriously they are threatened, for example, species listed in Appendix 1 are the most endangered. The Convention bans commercial trade of species in the greatest danger of extinction and strictly controls trade in many others through government licences. These controls apply to both live and dead animals and plants as well as anything that is made from them.

In the UK, it is a criminal offence to import, export, advertise for sale, sell, or buy any species in any form if it is listed on Appendix I of CITES. The maximum penalty is five years imprisonment, a fine of £5,000, or both.

It is not an offence to merely be in possession of an endangered species item. There are also some exceptions to the law that apply to the sale of antique wildlife items. Please refer to the UK CITES website for more information or the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).