Import and export of CITES species and products and related activities within Finland and the EU

Information on the need for a permit and permit procedures is available on the website of Finland’s environmental administration. A CITES import, export and re-export permit and an EU certificate are applied for by submitting a completed application form along with attachments to the Finnish Environment Institute.

A company, organisation or individual buying or selling CITES species must determine the need for a permit. The party concerned must ensure that the permits and certificates are valid before it starts the activities in question. Both cross-border transport and trade without proper documentation are illegal.

The determination of whether a permit is needed begins by checking if the species is listed in the species Annexes of the EU CITES legislation. The need for a permit and the application process depend on e.g. which Annex (A, B, C or D) of the EU CITES legislation the species is listed in, what kind of activity it is (import, export or re-export beyond the EU, or activity inside Finland or the EU) and what purpose the specimen of the species, a part of it or the product containing it is used for. Permits may not be granted for certain species or certain activities. For example, you may not necessarily engage in commercial activities with more strictly regulated species and you cannot normally bring CITES species from certain countries.

A CITES import permit is required when importing species listed in Annex A or B from outside the EU. When importing a specimen listed in Annex B for personal use in the importer’s baggage, the importer does not need an import permit if they have a relevant CITES export permit. This does not, however, apply to live specimens, which always also require a CITES import permit. A CITES export permit is usually applied for by the exporter.

A CITES export or re-export permit is required when exporting a species listed in Annex A or B to a country outside the EU. A CITES export permit is required in Finland also for the export of personal or household effects, even though they are exported as part of the baggage.

When importing or exporting a species listed in Annex C or D or products made from it, the permit requirements differ from those for the species listed in Annex A and B.

An EU certificate is required for commercial activities with species listed in Annex A. Also, the transit of a live specimen removed from the wild requires an EU certificate, even if it is a non-commercial activity.

The permit requirements apply not only to companies dealing with species and products covered by the Convention, but also to private individuals (for example pet owners, online retailers, hunters and tourists)