The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026

3 Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein is amended as follows. (2) After Article 1a (references to importation) insert— Article1b Electronic forms Any form mentioned in Article 4 (including an application form, continuation sheet, label, notification, annex to a form and supporting document) may be submitted to the management authority in paper or electronic format or both. . (3) In Article 8 (issue and use of documents) in paragraph 1, for the sentence beginning “Permits and certificates, substitute— Permits, certificates and labels may be issued in paper format or in electronic format, or both, by the management authority and by the competent authority of a third country. . (4) In Article 10 (validity of import and export permits etc)— (a) after paragraph 3a insert— 3b. The period of validity of a certificate issued by the management authority under Article 60 shall not exceed five years but the management authority may re-issue the certificate prior to the certificate’s date of expiry for a further period not exceeding five years. 3c. A certificate issued under Article 60 prior to 23rd June 2026 that does not specify an expiry date expires on 22nd June 2031. ; (b) in paragraph 4, for “and 3a”, substitute “, 3a and 3b”. (5) In Article 11 (validity of used import permits and certificates), in paragraph 3 for the words from the beginning to “means” substitute— Certificates issued in accordance with Articles 48 and 63 must be clearly marked in the appropriate location on the face of the certificate as— (a) transaction-specific in the case of specimens or dead specimens which cannot be marked or identified by other means; or (b) specimen-specific in the case of specimens or dead specimens which are uniquely and permanently marked. . (6) In Article 19 (simplified procedures with regard to export or re-export of dead specimens)— (a) in the heading— (i) after “regard to” insert “import,”; (ii) omit “dead”; (b) in paragraph 1— (i) in the unnumbered paragraph before subparagraph (a)— (aa) before “export”, in the first place it occurs, insert “import,”; (bb) after “re-export of” omit “dead”; (cc) before “export permits” insert “import permits,”; (ii) in subparagraph (a) before “export or” insert “import,”; (iii) in subparagraph (b) after “species” insert “or specimens of species”; (iv) in subparagraph (c) after “partially completed” insert “import permits,”; (v) in subparagraph (d) for the unnumbered paragraph before point (i) substitute— the management authority must authorise registered persons or bodies to enter specific information in boxes 3, 5, 8 and 9 or 10 of the export permit or re-export certificate or boxes 1, 4, 8, and 9 or 10 of the import permit provided that they comply with the following requirements: ; (c) in paragraph 2— (i) before “export” insert “import,”; (ii) for “Article 5(4)” substitute “Articles 4(2) and 5(4)”. (7) In Article 24 (documents to be surrendered by the importer to the customs office) after paragraph 2 insert— 3. In the case of an import notification that relates to specimens of species listed in Annex B to Regulation (EC) No 338/97, which are exempt from Article 4(2) of that Regulation by Article 7(5) of that Regulation, customs offices may, where necessary, retain such specimens pending verification of the validity of the accompanying export documents referred to in Article 4(1)(b) (as applied by Article 4(2)(c)) of that Regulation). . (8) In Article 32 (issuing authority) for paragraph 2, substitute— 2. A travelling exhibition certificate issued by a third country is valid for use in Great Britain provided that— (a) the certificate has not expired; (b) it conforms to the format and content requirements set out in Annex 3 of CITES Resolution Conf. 12.3; (c) the specimen covered by the certificate is clearly marked and is accompanied by the original certificate and any required continuation sheets; (d) the issuing authority is listed as a management authority by the Convention Secretariat; and (e) the management authority is satisfied there is no history of non-compliance associated with the certificate or the specimen or specimens to which the certificate applies. . (9) In Article 34 (applications) for paragraph 1, substitute— 1a. The applicant for a travelling-exhibition certificate must complete boxes 3 and 9 to 18 of the application form (form 3) and boxes 3 and 9 to 18 of the original and all copies. 1b. The applicant must include in the application form the name and details of the owner of the specimen and, if relevant, the name and details of a person authorised by the owner of the specimen to act on their behalf. 1c. Where the applicant for a certificate is not the owner of the specimen subject to the application, evidence of authority to make the application on behalf of the owner must be submitted in written form to the management authority together with the application form; 1d. The management authority may authorise the completion of a single application form in which case such an application may be for more than one certificate. . (10) Omit Article 45a (introduction, export or re-export through a non-designated customs office). (11) In Article 48 (certificate provided for in Article 8(3) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (certificate for commercial use)) in paragraph 2 after “import” insert “, export or re-export”. (12) In Article 57 (introduction and reintroduction into Great Britain of personal and household effects) in paragraph 1, in the first unnumbered paragraph after “if they” insert “are not subject to any additional measures, conditions or restrictions set out in guidance published under Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and”. (13) In Article 58 (export and re-export from Great Britain of personal and household effects) in paragraph 1, after “transported for sale” insert “or specimens subject to any additional measures, conditions or restrictions set out in guidance published under Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97”. (14) In Article 60 (derogation from Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97 for the benefit of scientific institutions)— (a) omit “in consultation with a scientific authority”; (b) after “sale” insert “, exchange or loan”. (15) In Article 66 (marking methods), for paragraph 8 substitute— 8a. Captive born and bred birds, as well as other birds born in a controlled environment must be marked with a seamlessly closed leg-ring that is uniquely marked in accordance with guidance on the unique marking of seamlessly closed leg-rings published by the management authority. 8b. For the purposes of paragraph 8a, a seamlessly closed leg-ring refers to a ring or band in a continuous circle, without any break or join, which has not been tampered with in any way, of a size which cannot be removed from the bird when its leg is fully grown after having been applied in the first days of the bird’s life and which has been commercially manufactured for that purpose. . (16) In Annex 10 (animal species referred to in Article 62(1)) after “Psephotus dissimilis” insert— Reptilia TESTUDINES Testudinidae Testudo graeca Testudo hermanni Testudo marginata .