Souvenirs and endangered species

We all like to bring back souvenirs from our holiday, but at what price? What might look like an innocent ornament or a delicious snack may well turn out to be made from an endangered species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a world body which regulates the trade of over 33,000 species of endangered animals and plants through the issue of permits and certificates. In the UK it is the Animal Health's Wildlife Licensing Registration Service who issue CITES permits which you need of you want to bring into the EU any item on the endangered list.

The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of items to avoid where international trade is prohibited:

- Elephant Ivory: the international trade of ivory is illegal however some exceptions apply in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

- Chinese medicine: it may be that some contain tiger, rhino or leopard parts.

- Sea turtle shells: in the tropics shells are made into jewellery, combs and glasses frames.

- Products made from big cats: anything containing parts of jaguar, leopard or tiger is banned

- Shahtoosh: a type of shawl made from the hair of the Tibetan antelope (Chiru), killed for its fur.

- Bushmeat: this is the meat of any wild animal hunted outside the EU. It can pose a health risk to humans and livestock.

The following is a list of things for which you need a permit in order to bring back:

- Coral
- Queen conch shells
- Most species of orchids and cacti
- Most reptile-skin products
- Caviar, in amounts of 125g

For the above items, not only will you need an import permit from Animal Health but also an export permit from the country in which you bought the item.

For any enquiries regarding the buying of possible endangered species souvenirs abroad, contact Animal Health's Wildlife Licensing Registration Service by telephone (+44 117 372 8691/8774), by fax (+44 117 372 8206) or by email (wildlife.licensing@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk).