I am buying or traveling with a product subject to CITES, what should I know?

What is CITES?

The purchase and transport of products made from the skin or parts of exotic animals is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), also called the Washington Convention. Travelers seeking to import or (re)export CITES specimens must first present CITES documents to customs. These documents vary depending on the appendix and the direction of trade (import/export) concerned.

CITES regulates international trade in animals or plants – living or dead – listed in Appendices I, II and III, as well as their parts and derivatives, in order to protect biodiversity and promote the sustainable use of wildlife.

Who is covered by this convention?

Any traveler buying or carrying CITES specimens or products made from the skin or parts of exotic animals must make inquiries sufficiently in advance in order to find out which documents are required.

What procedure is to be followed?

The CITES tracking document is initially completed by the manufacturer when designing any product made from the skin or parts of exotic animals. It is then given to the merchant at the same time as the product, as part of its sale.

When the passenger purchases a product subject to CITES in BuYPARIS DUTY FREE stores, the tracking document is given to him/her at the same time as the product.

The document must then be presented to customs on each occasion the customer leaves the country.

Upon leaving the European Union, the passenger must then present original copies of the CITES documents to customs officials at the first point of entry in the destination country for them to complete and stamp.

If the product is re-imported (returned to the European Union), the passenger must present original copies of the CITES documents to customs officials at the point of entry for them to complete and stamp.

What about the European Union?

The Member States of the European Union do not enforce CITES itself, but have instead passed regulations which harmonize and strengthen its application within the EU. Travelers should raise any questions with staff at BuYPARIS DUTY FREE stores when making a purchase.

Further information

For more information on the CITES procedure and the required documents, click here.