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| Information for Travellers - Trade Hotspots Souvenir Alert | Trade Hotspots | Frequently Asked Questions | Other Advice Trade Hotspots Around The World Sri Lanka and the Maldives Watch out for shops selling entire turtle shells, or bracelets, earrings and hair clips made from "tortoiseshell". These can not be brought back to the EU. Some of the corals for sale will require an export permit to be brought back home. The Philippines Remembering your holiday with a sea shell is tempting, but keep them small - the giant clam included in CITES Appendix II (EC Annex B) and you will need an export permit to bring one home. India, Nepal and Pakistan Skins from leopards, jaguars, tigers and other protected cats are quite often available in smaller shops and frontier markets. These can not be brought back legally into the EU. You may also come across garments using 'Shahtoosh'. This wool comes from a critically endangered species of Tibetan antelope and again international trade is banned. Africa Ivory and elephant product souvenirs can be found for sale in shops, hotels and markets, in many African (and Asian) countries. Only in the case of Zimbabwe, can these be brought back to the EU. (Travellers may return home with a limited number of ivory or elephant hide products so long as they are for personal use only and not resold. There are maximum allowances per person and the seller must give you a personal effects export permit issued by the Zimbabwean Government which you will have to show to UK Customs on your return.) This does not apply to any other country where all trade is banned and elephant and ivory products should be avoided altogether. Each year UK Customs make many seizures from holidaymakers and business travellers returning from Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, the Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania. If you are thinking of visiting Zimbabwe, contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for further information. Watch out too for succulents from South Africa and orchids. (NB Madagascar doesn’t ban the trade in their wild plants) Many of these are banned from trade. Others will require an export permit. Far East, especially Thailand and Indonesia Many of the above will be found. Flower markets may also be offering protected species of orchids or carnivorous plants. Cut flowers bought from reputable stores may be exempt from controls. Watch out too for anything made from snake and lizard skin - many species are protected by CITES. It may be illegal to bring some products such as briefcases, handbags and shoes back to this country. Others will require an export permit. Mexico Be wary if you are offered cacti by anyone other than a reputable nursery. Many species are banned from trade and even seeds from Mexican species originating in Mexico (NB this is an important distinction) require an export permit. Cuba and the Caribbean Travellers should be aware that most of the hard coral species (i.e.: those commonly sold as souvenirs) that occur in Cuban and Caribbean waters are listed on CITES. This includes species described as Black coral, Cable or Bush coral, Hump coral, Fire coral and Lace coral. As with the shells of the Queen conch, these all require a CITES export permit to be brought back. The same goes for many of the reptile skin products that you may be offered, as well as many orchids. Elsewhere This is not an exhaustive list - many of these products can be found at almost any tourist destination. Even in Europe, coats and bags made out of jaguar, leopard or other protected cat species may be available, as can jewellery made of tortoiseshell and ivory and traditional medicines derived from rhinos and tigers. More Information For more information, and to check whether you can bring back a particular item, contact Defra’s Global Wildlife Division on 0117 372 8749.
Introduction | Enforcement | News | Licensing | Information for travellers | Contacts
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