GovWire

You can only import (bring in) or export (take out) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) specimens through designated land, sea and air ports in the UK.

A specimen is a living or dead animal or plant, or any of its parts, or an item made from these.

CITES-designated points of entry and exit

There are customs offices at the following points of entry and exit designated for CITES trade.

You can use these airports:

• Belfast International
• Birmingham International
• Bristol International
• Cardiff International
• East Midlands
• Edinburgh
• Gatwick
• Glasgow International
• Glasgow Prestwick
• Humberside
• London Heathrow
• London Luton
• London Stansted
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Southampton International

You can use these ports:

• Belfast Seaport
• Dover
• Eurotunnel
• Felixstowe
• Fishguard
• Harwich international
• Heysham
• Holyhead
• Hull
• Immingham
• Larne
• Liverpool Seaforth Container Terminal
• London Gateway (Port of London)
• Pembroke
• Plymouth
• Poole
• Portsmouth International Port
• Southampton ABP
• Teesport
• Tilbury (Port of London)

Postal hubs

Postal hubs have been designated at:

• Coventry International Parcel Post Hub
• Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC)

These can only be used by Royal Mail, postal courier services and Border Force to check CITES parcels. Postal hubs cannot be used by the public.

Read how to import and export CITES specimens by post.

Moving live animals and animal products

The following CITES points of entry or exit have border control posts (BCPs) designated to handle live animals and carry out CITES, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks.

Moving CITES specimens through Humberside airport

If youre transporting CITES specimens through Humberside airport you must tell Border Force at least 24 hours before youre due to arrive. Contact Border Force by:

Telephone: +44 (0)300 106 5302
Email: BFImminghamFAST@homeoffice.gov.uk

Moving CITES specimens through Belfast Seaport

If youre transporting live animals through Belfast Seaport you must tell Border Force Belfast at least 24 hours before youre due to arrive to book an appointment. If you call during office hours youll usually be seen within the hour.

The office opening hours are Monday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm. You must enter the Border Force Belfast processing area no later than 3:30pm.

Belfast Seaport address:

Telephone: +44 (0)3000 738 256
Email: bfportteam@homeoffice.gov.uk

Moving CITES specimens through the Port of Dover

If youre moving CITES specimens through Dover port youll need to present your CITES documentation to Border Force for endorsement at Dover Western Docks.

Dover Western Docks address:

Moving CITES specimens through Eurotunnel

Importing through Eurotunnel

To import CITES specimens into the UK through Eurotunnel, check the guidance for trading or moving CITES-listed specimens through UK ports and airports.

Exporting through Eurotunnel

To export CITES specimens from the UK through Eurotunnel you can present your CITES documents to Border Force at Ebbsfleet or at another suitable designated point of entry and exit sea port. Find a list of suitable ports in the section CITES-designated points of entry and exit.

Ebbsfleet address:

How to access the Ebbsfleet inland border facility.

Contact Border Force

The Border Force office has a 24 hour service, Monday to Sunday.

Telephone: +44 (0)300 1060 732
Email: doverinternationaltrade@homeoffice.gov.uk

Contact APHA

You can contact APHA for support with trading or moving endangered animals or plants listed under CITES at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.