How does species protection concern me as a traveller?

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.

A summary of the most important points for travellers

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.

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.

• Ivory or elephant leather (for example: ivory sculptures or carvings, elephant leather bags or elephant feet that have been converted into umbrella stands)
• Hunting trophies of protected species
• Exotic skins and fur coats
• All wild species of cat
• All apes, including meat such as "bushmeat"
• Rhinoceros products (for example: horns, treated rhinoceros feet, anti-impotence products made of rhinoceros horn powder)
• Living or stuffed birds (predators above all)
• Crocodiles, caimans and snakes (made into, for example, shoes, belts or watch straps)
• Turtles and products of tortoiseshell
• Cacti and cactus-like plants, Tillandsia, and orchids
• Corals, and mollusc or snail shells (made into, for example, decoration)

By way of exception, the following dead specimens of species listed in Annex B of Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 may be carried per person in their personal luggage for personal use without documentation:

• caviar from sturgeon (Acipenseriformes spp.) up to a quantity of 125 grams in properly labelled containers
• up to three rain sticks made from cactus (Cactaceae spp.)
• up to four crocodile leather products (Crocodylia spp.)
• up to three queen conch shells (Strombus gigas)
• up to four seahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
• up to three specimens of giant clams (Tridacnidae spp.), totalling no more than 3 kg, where one specimen may consist of one intact complete shell or two matching shell halves
• agarwood specimens (Aquilaria spp. and Gyrinops spp.) - up to 1 kg of wood shavings, 24 ml of oil and two sets of beads (or prayer beads or two necklaces or bracelets)

What other exceptions are there to the documentation requirement?

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).

Where can I find out more about protected species?

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)

Which customs offices may conduct species protection customs clearance?

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.

Customs offices (in German)

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.