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The species protection regulations apply to all travellers, irrespective of whether they are entering or leaving the EU.
Many of us find stuffed animals, objects made of animal parts, or plants that are fascinating because they look unusual, attractive. Such souvenirs are often on sale where we go for our holidays. However, it is wise to be extremely cautious.
These animals or plants (although they are already dead, or only parts are present) may be protected species.
Do not allow your doubts to be allayed by dealers who are ready to issue you with an "export certificate". Only the competent authorities of the country in which you are holidaying is authorised to issue an official certificate.
Throughout the year the customs has to seize a very large number of protected species of animals or plants, or objects made of them - most though, in the holiday season - because they have been brought in without the necessary permits.
You should also be aware of the fact that not only living, but dead animals or plants, and products that contain parts of them (such as sturgeon caviar, skin cream, Asian traditional medicines and food supplements, or tourist souvenirs) may come within the scope of species protection.
Protected species permits are always required for specimens of protected species. This applies both to their import and their export.
The following list should help you to see which animals and plants are protected, and which therefore require a protected species document. You should bear in mind that this list can only give you general guidance, and is in no way a complete list.
As an exception, individuals may bring the following specimens for their personal use with them in their own luggage:
Parcels sent by post are not included in these exceptions.
There are additional exceptions from the documentation requirement with regard to items for personal use. You can find further information about them on the website of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
Many hunting trophies come within the scope of species protection restrictions. A list of the species of relevance to hunters is accessible on the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation’s home page. It is also advisable to make inquiries of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation by telephone before going hunting. Insofar as there is an exception from the documentation requirement, it also applies to hunting trophies that are imported at a later time (after, for example, having been prepared in the country where the hunting took place).
You can conduct your own, optional, research accessing the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation’s species protection database - WISIA – to find out whether a specific species of animal or plant is protected.
Federal Agency for Nature Conservation`s species protection database (WISIA)
Here you should be aware of the fact that not all customs offices have species protection clearing competence. You can see whether your nearest customs office is authorised for such clearance in the departments directory; customs offices that are authorised to conduct species protection clearances are shown with the entry "Clearance of animals and plants that are subject to an import or export procedure pursuant to acts of the European Community (for example, Regulation (EC) No 338/97) and/or possession or marketing restrictions pursuant to the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Federal Nature Conservation Act, Section 49 Paragraph 3)" in the second column.
You should also be aware that the customs only plays a subordinate role in the field of species protection. Chiefly responsible is the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, and the customs plays a supporting role by monitoring borders, ports and airports. If you are unclear or have any questions, you should, initially, refer to the Federal Agency of Nature Conservation.