Form

Export or re-export permit for CITES-protected live birds: guidance for completing form FED0172

Updated 6 June 2022

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It aims to protect endangered animals and plants.

This guidance will help you apply for a permit to export or re-export a live bird that is protected by CITES.

When you fill out the form, include all the information we ask for in this guidance. We will contact you if we need extra information, but this may slow down your application.

Do not arrange to transport your bird until you receive your export or re-export permit.

When you need an export permit

You need an export permit if your bird is CITES listed in EU/GB Annex A, B or C or in Appendix I, II or III and one of the following applies:

• your bird hatched in the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) and you are moving it to another country
• you are moving your bird in either direction between Northern Ireland and another part of the UK (England, Scotland or Wales)
• you are moving your bird between the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) and the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

You do not need an export permit if your bird is listed in EU/GB Annex D, but not listed in a CITES Appendix.

You must check if the country you are exporting your bird to has any:

• additional CITES requirements for import
• special health requirements

When you need a re-export permit

You need a re-export permit if your bird is CITES listed in EU/GB Annex A, B or C or in Appendix I, II or III and either of the following applies:

• your bird was imported into the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) and you are moving it to another country
• your bird is being re-exported from Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) to Northern Ireland or from Northern Ireland into Great Britain
• you’re not sure which country your bird came from and you are moving it to another country

You do not need a re-export permit if your bird is listed in EU/GB Annex D, but not listed in a CITES Appendix.

You must check if the country you are exporting your bird to has any:

• additional CITES requirements for import
• special health requirements

What the permits cover and how long they are valid for

Permits are only valid for:

• the birds listed on the permit
• the country named on the permit
• 1 export or re-export
• 6 months from the date of issue (we cannot extend this)

Check that your permit covers the period when your bird is moving between countries. If your permit expires, customs officials could seize your bird and you might have to pay more money.

You might also need to make a new, retrospective application, but we will only issue retrospective permits in exceptional circumstances.

Check if your bird is listed in CITES

To check if your bird is listed in CITES EU/GB Annex A, B or C or in Appendix I, II or III, you need the full, scientific name of your bird’s species. This name will be in Latin. If you’re unsure you can:

• search online
• ask your local library
• contact your vet

We cannot accept common names and we cannot identify species.

Once you know your bird’s scientific name, search for it on Species Plus.

The Appendix listing for your bird is listed in the section, ‘CITES’.

The EU Annex for your bird is listed in the section, ‘EU Wildlife Trade Regulations’. The EU Annex is the same as the GB Annex. So, EU Annex A is the same as GB Annex A.

Pay the fees

You must pay fees to cover the cost of your application. The full fees are:

• £63 for an export permit for one bird
• £37 for a re-export permit for one bird

You pay £1.50 for each additional bird, provided they meet these 3 criteria:

• they are all the same species
• they have the same source and purpose code (see the notes for boxes 13 and 14 for more information)
• they are being transported between the same importer and exporter

If additional birds do not meet these 3 criteria, you pay the full fee for each bird.

You can pay with your credit or debit card by phoning 01633 631 800, or send a cheque or postal order to:

UK CITES Management Authority
Centre for International Trade – Bristol
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

You will need to tell us the correct fee. If you’re unsure, ask us by phone 0117 372 3700 or email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk

When you pay, ask for a payment reference number  – we can also email this to you. You should add your payment reference number to box 23 (‘Remarks’).

We will process your application when we receive your payment.

Download the right application form

Download the application form and complete it electronically if you can. Electronic forms are easier to read and quicker to process. You need to use:

• application form FED0172 GB if you are applying from England, Scotland or Wales
• application form FED0172 NI if you are applying from Northern Ireland

If you cannot download a form, you can request a paper copy by phone 0117 372 3700 or email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk

You can also use these application forms to apply for an import permit. But this guidance only relates to export and re-export permits.

Fill in the application form

Write ‘N/A’ (which means ‘not applicable’) in any box you are not using. If you do not, we may assume the information is missing and contact you.

Firstly, tell us which permit you are applying for by ticking the box ‘Export’ or ‘Re-export’. They’re both in the top right-hand corner of the form.

Exporter/re-exporter (box 1)

Write your name and contact details – not those of an agent.

If you have appointed an agent to apply for you:

• you must sign and date a letter that gives the name and address of your agent and authorises them to act on your behalf
• tell us in the letter if we should send the export or re-export permit to you or your agent – we only send permits to a UK postal address
• the agent must send that letter with the application

If you are including a letter that authorises an agent, let us know in box 23 (‘Remarks’).

Importer (box 3)

Write the name and address of the importer you are sending your bird to.

Do not write the details of an agent.

Country of (re-) export (box 4)

If you are re-exporting your bird, write the name of the country you are re-exporting it from.

Write ‘UK’ if your bird was imported into the UK and you are moving it to another country.

Write ‘N/A’ if you are exporting – not re-exporting – your bird. For example, if your bird hatched in the UK and it has never left the UK before now.

Country of import (box 5)

Write the name of the country you are sending your bird to.

Location at which live specimens of Annex A species will be kept (box 6)

Write ‘N/A’ in this box.

Issuing Management Authority (box 7)

This box is pre-printed with the UK CITES address.

Description of specimens (box 8)

Start your description with LIV, which means ‘Live’.

You must include:

• the number of birds (of the same species)
• simple or common name (for example Owl, Falcon)
• sex (male, female or sex unknown)
• the closed ring number or the 15-digit microchip number
• hatch date (day, month and year, or month and year, or ‘Hatch date: unknown’)

If you do not know the hatch date, you must tell us why in box 23 (‘Remarks’), or in an email or covering letter.

If you run out of space, you can send us additional information by:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH

You should also tell us about any additional information you are including in box 23 on the form (‘Remarks’).

Birds listed in CITES EU/GB Annex A

If your bird is listed in CITES EU/GB Annex A, tell us the following:

• its Article 10 commercial use certificate number or EU certificate number
• a copy or scan of the EU certificate (if applicable)
• its closed ring or microchip number

If your bird does not have an Article 10 number, tell us the following:

• how, where and when you got your bird
• the full details of the bird’s parents, including their Article 10 numbers and closed ring or microchip numbers

Birds listed in CITES EU/GB Annex B or C

If your bird is listed in CITES EU/GB Annex B or C and it has a closed ring or microchip number, tell us the number.

You can include more than one bird from CITES EU/GB Annex B or C on this application form. They must share the same:

• source code
• purpose code
• importer address
• import permit number (if there is one)

Hybrid birds

If your bird is a hybrid, you must write the scientific names of the different species separated by an ‘X’. For example, Falco rusticolus X Falco cherrug.

Examples of descriptions of birds

LIV

One live male owl

Closed ring number: OWL01TEL01231456035

Hatch date: 03/04/2021

LIV

Two female and one male brown harrier eagles

Hatch date: 05/2021

Example of a description of a hybrid bird

LIV

One live female hybrid falcon (Falco rusticolus X Falco cherrug)

Closed ring number 123044-01 GB

Hatch date: 05/2019

Net mass (kg) (box 9)

Write ‘N/A’ in this box.

Quantity (box 10)

If your bird is in EU/GB Annex A, or it is in EU/GB Annex B or C and it has a closed ring, write 1. This is because you must use a separate application form for each bird.

If your bird is in EU/GB Annex B or C and is not fitted with a closed ring, write the number of birds you are applying for. Each bird must have the same:

• source code
• purpose code
• importer address
• import permit number (if there is one)

CITES appendix (box 11)

You need to tell us which CITES Appendix your bird is listed in. To do this, you need the full, scientific name of your bird’s species, which will be in Latin. If you’re unsure you can:

• search online
• ask your local library
• contact your vet

Once you have your bird’s scientific name:

• search for the scientific name of your bird on Species Plus
• Species Plus will then tell you the CITES Appendix number – I, II or III (ignore any other letters and always use the number from the most recent listing)

For hybrid birds, you need to check the individual species. This is because Species Plus does not include the names of hybrid birds – only individual species. If the individual species are in a different CITES Appendix, tell us the highest (I is the highest).

You can check the common English name of your bird via the ‘Names’ tab. You need this information for the section, ‘Common name of species’ (box 22). If several common names are listed, use the first English name.

GB Annex (box 12)

You need to tell us which CITES Annex your bird is listed in. You will need your bird’s scientific, Latin name.

• Search for the scientific name of your bird on Species Plus
• Species Plus will tell you the CITES Annex – A, B, C or D (ignore any other letters)
• the CITES Annex for your bird is listed in the section EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, which is further down the page
• you only need to check the most recent Annex (a date is shown beside each Annex)

The EU Annex is the same as the GB Annex. So, EU Annex A is the same as GB Annex A.

For hybrid birds, you need to check the individual species. This is because Species Plus does not include the names of hybrid birds – only individual species. If the individual species are in a different CITES Annex, tell us the highest.

Source (box 13)

This is where you tell us about your bird’s origins.

There are 10 sources listed on the back of the form – you choose 1. We have listed here the 7 most common sources.

If you are unsure which code to use, email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or phone 0117 372 3700.

If you are including additional information, let us know in box 23 (‘Remarks’).

C – birds bred in captivity

C is the most common source.

If you’re unsure of the definition of captivity, check Article 54 of Chapter XIII of Regulation (EC) No 865/2006.

If you have a bird that is listed in CITES GB Annex A, you need to provide the following:

• your bird’s Article 10 number if you have one
• your bird’s closed ring or microchip number
• the closed ring or microchip numbers for both its parents

If somebody gave you the bird as a gift you must provide a signed copy of a letter from that person. This must include any information they have about where the bird and its parents came from.

If the birds are listed in CITES EU/GB Annex B or C, you must provide the following information:

• where you got your bird from
• details of its parents, such as hatch certificates
• details of the seller

F – birds born in captivity but not captive bred

If you’re unsure of the definition of captivity, check Article 54 of Chapter XIII of Regulation (EC) No 865/2006.

U – source unknown

Use U if you do not have evidence that the bird was captive bred.

You must clearly explain the following:

• how you got your bird
• where you got your bird from
• when you got your bird

You could send us a signed and dated letter from the person who gifted you the bird, or a copy of a dated invoice from the seller.

O – pre-convention

Use O if your bird hatched before its species name was added to the CITES list. This is regardless of Annex or Appendix.

D – CITES registered breeder

Use D if you are a CITES-registered breeder and the UK CITES management authority has confirmed your registration.

R – birds bred and raised in a controlled environment

This includes birds taken from the wild (as eggs or young) that would not have survived to adulthood.

W – birds taken from the wild

You must tell us when, where and why your bird was taken from the wild.

If your bird was taken from the wild in the UK, you must provide a copy of a conservation licence from one of the following:

• Natural England
• Northern Ireland Environment Agency
• Scottish Government
• Welsh Government

If your bird was taken from the wild outside the UK, you must provide a copy of the import permit.

If you do not have an import permit, you can send confirmation from the CITES management authority that they will issue an import permit.

Purpose (box 14)

This is where you tell us why you are exporting or re-exporting your bird. There are 12 purposes listed on the back of the form – you choose 1.

Here are the 8 most common purposes for exporting/re-exporting live birds overseas.

• T – commercial: you have sold your bird and you are sending it to the new owner
• P – personal: you are sending your pet bird overseas as part of a house move or permanent relocation
• B – Breeding: your bird is being used for breeding (in captivity or artificial propagation)
• E – educational: your bird is being used for education or display
• N – reintroduction: you are reintroducing your bird into the wild
• S – scientific: your bird is being used for specialist scientific research
• Z – zoos: you are sending your bird to a zoo
• Q – travelling exhibition: your bird is being exhibited, but not sold

Country of origin (box 15)

Write the name of the country where your bird came from originally.

If you do not know, tell us:

• why
• the earliest provable date on which your bird was first owned by somebody

You must send us signed declarations from previous owners or finders. You can send these by:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH
• box 23 on the form (‘Remarks’)

Permit number (box 16)

If your bird came from outside the UK, write the CITES export permit number for that country. If you have a copy of a re-export permit, you will find the original export permit number on it.

Otherwise, write ‘N/A’.

Date of issue (box 17)

If your bird has a CITES export permit, write the date that’s on the export permit.

Otherwise, write ‘N/A’.

Country of last re-export (box 18)

Write the name of the country where your bird was last re-exported from. This is the last country your bird was in before it was exported to the UK, but not the country it hatched in.

If your bird has not been re-exported write ‘N/A’. For example, if your bird hatched in the UK and it has never left the UK, or if your bird was exported to the UK from the country in which it hatched.

Copy of import permits

If your bird has been imported into the UK, you must send us a copy of the UK import permit, stamped by UK customs.

If your bird was imported into an EU country and then moved to the UK before 1 January 2021, you must send us a copy of the EU import permit, stamped by EU customs.

We cannot accept import permits that have not been stamped.

If you cannot provide an EU or a UK import permit, you must tell us why and give us the:

• import reference number
• date of import
• place of import

You must provide a copy of a draft import permit if your bird is listed in EU/GB Annex A and CITES Appendix I or II, but it is not one of the following:

• pre-convention
• bred in captivity
• bred by a CITES-registered breeder

You can send additional information by:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH
• box 23 on the form (‘remarks’)

Certificate number (box 19)

If your bird has been re-exported before, write the number of the CITES permit.

If your bird has not been re-exported before, write ‘N/A’.

Date of issue (box 20)

Write the date of the permit referred to in box 19 (Certificate number).

If you wrote ‘N/A’ in box 19, write ‘N/A’ in box 20 too.

Scientific name of species (box 21)

Write the full, scientific name of your bird’s species, which will be in Latin. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of this name, which you can do by:

• searching online
• asking your local library
• contacting your vet

We cannot accept common names and we cannot identify species.

If your bird is a hybrid, you must:

• check the scientific name of each species
• write the scientific name of each species separated by an ‘X’ – for example, Falco rusticolus X Falco cherrug

Common name of species (if available) (box 22)

Write the common name of your bird.

On Species Plus, the ‘Names’ tab will tell you the common name of your bird. Use the first English name if more than one name is shown.

If no common name is shown on Species Plus, write ‘Unknown’.

Remarks (box 23)

Use this box to tell us about any supporting information or documents you are providing. If there is not enough space, you can include the information in an email or covering letter:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH

An example of how to fill in ‘Remarks’ (box 23)

Enclosed with application:

1. Letter authorising [named person] to act as my agent to make this application. Send all correspondence and permits to my agent.
2. Copies of UK import certificate number XXXXXX/XX.
3. Copy of EU certificate no: GEXXXX01 for female parent issued in Germany.

I hereby apply for the permit/certificate indicated above

Sign and date your application, and tell us where (place, town, city) in the UK you are. By signing, you are confirming that all the information you have provided is correct.

Application checklist and sample application form

If you would like help completing your form, we can send you:

• an application checklist – you can complete this and include it with your application
• a completed, sample application form – to help you complete each section

To request these, email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or phone 0117 372 3700.

Submitting your application

It’s quickest to send your application by email: CITESapplication@apha.gov.uk

Send any scans of completed forms and supporting documents as email attachments. Do not paste them into the text of the email. Check that any scans are easy to read.

Write your email address on the signature line or in box 23 (‘Remarks’) on the application form.

You should include this line in your email: ‘I [your name] am the owner of the email account below and I am also the applicant.’

Send your completed form by post

You can post your application to:

UK CITES Management Authority
Centre for International Trade
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

You can phone 0117 372 3700 to check that we’ve received your application. To help us find your application, we need to know the following:

• the date you posted your application
• your name
• your postcode

Timescales

We aim to process applications and issue permits within 30 days. Some applications may take longer if we need additional information or scientific advice.

If your application is urgent, let us know why in your email or covering letter.

Receiving your permit

We send permits by first-class post (Royal Mail).

If you would like your certificate to arrive the next day, there is a fee for special delivery. To request special delivery, phone 0117 372 3700.

Collecting your certificate

If you would like to collect your certificate from our Bristol office, tell us in box 23 (‘Remarks’). We will phone you when it is ready.

Our office address is UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH.

Errors on your permit

When you receive your permit, check all the details are correct.

If we have made an error, we can send you a corrected, replacement permit. You must post the incorrect permit back to us.

If you have made an error, we can send you a corrected replacement permit for £1.50.

Contact us

Where we ask you to provide supporting information and copies of other documents you can do this by:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH
• in box 23 on the form (‘Remarks’)