Commercial use of endangered species: check if you need aan Article 10 CITES certificate

You must have a commercial use certificate, known as an Article 10 certificate, for any specimen listed by CITES in annex A that you plan to:

• use for commercial gain in any way
• keep for sale
• offer for sale
• transport for sale
• display to the public for commercial purposes
• breed from to sell individual offspring, even if you do not plan to sell the parents (which must be uniquely and permanently marked according to regulations)regulations)

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Before you apply

You must check if you also need a permit to import, export or re-export a CITES specimen.

Youpermit do not need an Article 10 certificate to ownimport or tradeexport inendangered specimens of species listed in annex B of the CITES regulations. However, if you’re challenged, you must be able to give evidence that you got the specimens lawfully.. 

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Marking commercial use exemption

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• owning or givinga away an annex A CITES specimen
• workedimport specimenspermit that youallows gota insingle theircommercial finishedsale. 

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• specimensthe ofapply certainfor animala speciesCITES (orpermit hybridsservice ofto them)apply bornfor andan bredArticle in10 captivitycertificate. and 

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• deadapplication specimenswill ofbe crocodileassessed (Crocodylia)based specieson includedreview inby annexscientific Aadvisers withat: 
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  • caviarthe ofJoint shortnoseNature sturgeonConservation (AcipenserCommittee brevirostrum)(JNCC) and– itsfor hybrids, with source code D, as long as it’s in a legally marked containeranimals 

  Marking species

  YouIf mustyour markapplication specimensis accordingaccepted, toyou’ll Europeanget regulationa Articleprinted, 66signed ofand ECstamped Regpermit 865/2006.or Thecertificate markingin needed depends on what the specimen is.post.

  MostIf liveyour specimensapplication mustis haverefused, one of the following:

  • an ISO-compliant, uniquely numbered microchip
  • a uniquely numbered, seamless closed ring for birds

  Contact APHA Centrewill forsend Internationalyou Trade:a Bristolletter forexplaining help with marking specimens.why. 

   TypeTypes of Article 10 certificate you will getcertificates 

  Depending on APHA’s willassessment giveof your application, you will either get a Specimen Specific Certificate (SSC) or a Transaction Specific Certificate (TSC). This will depend on APHA’s assessment of your individual case.

  Specimen Specific CertificatesCertificates 

  APHA issues SSCs for a specimen,specimen not(not a permit holder,holder) andwhich they must stay with the specimen for its life. You must give the SSC to the person buying the specimen at the time of the first sale and all future sales.sales. 

  You can apply for aan SSC for an individual specimen. SSCs are valid for all commercial use, no matter who owns the specimen, unless the description of the specimen on the certificate changes.changes. 

  SSCs issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are only valid for use in GB.Great Britain. Existing SSCs issued by either the UK or an EU member state on or before 31 DecDecember 2020, and located in GB,Great Britain, continue to be valid in GB.Great Britain. 

  SSCs issued in Northern Ireland (NI) are valid for use in NINorthern Ireland and the EU. Existing SSCs issued by either the UK or an EU member state on or before 31 DecDecember 2020, and located in NI,Northern Ireland, are valid in NINorthern Ireland and the EU.EU. 

  APHA only issues SSCs if:if: 

  • the specimen was introduced into the UK or the EU before it was listed in annex A or it was legally imported after that datedate 
  • the specimens are captive bred, which means they were born in captivity to 2 generations or beyond –(captive captive breeding involves more than just breeding in a cage, aviary or enclosure so– ask APHA if you’re not suresure, email APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk) 
  • the specimens must be uniquely and permanently marked according to regulationsregulations 

  Transaction Specific CertificatesCertificates 

  APHA may issue a TSC for an individual specimen to a specific holder if specimens:the specimen: 

  • dodoes not meet the criteria to be issued with aan SSC  
  • areis not correctly markedmarked 

  TSCs are only valid for the person or business named on the certificate.certificate. 

  You will see a statement on the TSC telling you what you can use it for. This might be for:for: 

  • one sale only by the person named on the certificate, from the address shownshown 
  • educational display, no salesale 
  • breeding, no salesale 

  The person buying the specimen must then apply for a new certificate if they plan to use the specimen for any commercial purpose.purpose. 

  Returning a certificate when you sell

  sell 

  When you sell a specimen, you must make sure that you:you: 

  • show the new owner your Article 10 certificate and reference number, or give them a photocopy of your certificate clearly marked with ‘copy for information only’only’ 
  • return the TSC to APHA immediately after passing the specimen over to another personperson 

  If you cannot give the new owner a copy of the Article 10 certificate, you can give them an invoice quoting the number on the certificate.certificate. 

  Other restrictions 

  Tigers, bears and rhinos: stricter controls

  controls 

  There are some exceptions to the usual CITES controls. In the UK, stricter measures apply to the following species:species: 

  • tigers (Panthera tigris) and any parts or derivativesderivatives 
  • bear (Ursidae) – bile, paws and gall bladdersbladders 
  • rhino (Rhinocerotidae) and rhino hornhorn 

  If you intend to trade or move specimens from any of these species, you must contactemail APHA Centrebefore foryou Internationalapply Trade:at Bristolwildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk before you apply..

  Elephant ivory

  ivory 

  If you intend to trade or move elephant ivory, read the guide on dealing in items containing ivory or made of ivory.. 

  Gifts and donationsExemptions 

  You do not need an Article 10 certificate ifto own or trade in specimens of species listed in annex B of the CITES regulations. However, you must be able to give evidence that you got the specimens lawfully. 

  Single commercial use exemption 

  If you’re applying for an import permit for an annex A specimen, you can ask APHA for special permission to allow you the first sale of the specimen, without an Article 10 certificate. You must make sure the specimen is marked properly before it’s imported. 

  You must return expired permits to APHA. 

  The specimen’s new owner must get an Article 10 certificate if they want to:to use the specimen commercially. 

  Special exemptions 

  There are specific circumstances where you do not need an Article 10 certificate. 

  These include: 

  • giveowning youror specimensgiving away an annex A CITES specimen 
  • usea specimen within a worked item or displayfinished themproduct forthat non-commercialyou purposesacquired in its finished state before 3 March 1947 
  • specimens of certain animal species (or hybrids of them) born and bred in captivity and listed in annex X of EC Regulation 865/2006 
  • artificially propagated specimens of plant species 
  • dead specimens of crocodile (Crocodylia) species included in annex A with source code D, as long as they’re legally marked or identified as per the regulation 
  • caviar of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and its hybrids, with source code D, as long as it’s in a legally marked container 

  Specimens

  Gifts youand intenddonations 

  You todo displaynot may need aan travellingArticle exhibition10 certificate. if you want to: 

  • give your specimens away 
  • use or display them for non-commercial purposes 

  If you receive a specimen as a gift, you must complete the WLRS02 form to confirm a gift or unconditional loan of a specimen, that did not involve a commercial transaction.transaction. 

  You may not be allowed to sell a specimen that was a gift if there’s not enough information about how it was gifted.gifted. 

  You should also ask the person who gave it to you for:for: 

  • the specimen’s originorigin 
  • details on how they came to possess the specimenspecimen 
  • previous certificates and permits or other documentation, including non-CITES paperwork, to show legal origin and previous possessionpossession 
  • their contact detailsdetails 

  APHA may need to check this information if the new owner applies for an Article 10 certificate.certificate. 

  You’ll need to apply for an Article 10 certificate if:if: 

  • the gift involves some other type of exchange or benefit, including a charitable donationdonation 
  • you’re receiving the gift and plan to use the specimen for commercial purposespurposes 

  Buying

  Get endangered species

  help 

  BeforeIf you buyneed ahelp specieswith thatyour isapplication, listedcontact under annex A in the CITESAPHA list,team youat mustwildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.