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When you need a certificate

You must have a commercial use (Article 10 or Article 60) certificate, for any CITES specimen listed in Annex A that you plan to:

• use for commercial gain in any way
• keep for sale
• offer for sale
• transport for sale
• display to the public for commercial purposes
• breed from to sell individual offspring, even if you do not plan to sell the parents (which must be uniquely and permanently marked according to regulations)

Use the search on to check if your specimen is listed in Annex A.

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

Check which certificate you need

In most cases, you should apply for an Article 10 certificate, which covers an individual specimen.Ìý

IfÌýyou’reÌýaÌýscientific institution, you can instead apply for an Article 60 certificate, which covers all relevant Annex A specimens in your collection at a specific site. You can only apply if you intend to use all specimens for either:Ìý

• captive breeding or artificial propagation thatÌýadd conservationÌýbenefitÌýforÌýthe speciesÌý

• research or education to preserve or conserve the species

Exemptions for Article 10 certificates

Annex B specimens

You do not need an Article 10 certificate to own or trade in specimens of species listed in Annex B of the CITES regulations. However, you must be able to give evidence that you got the specimens lawfully.Ìý

Single commercial use exemptionÌý

If you’re applying for an import permit for an Annex A specimen, you can ask APHA for special permission to allow you the first sale of the specimen, without an Article 10 certificate. You must make sure the specimen is marked properly before it’s imported.Ìý

You must return expired permits to APHA.Ìý

The specimen’s new owner must get a certificate if they want to use the specimen commercially.Ìý

Special exemptionsÌý

There are specific circumstances where you do not need an Article 10 certificate.Ìý

These include:Ìý

• owning or giving away an Annex A CITES ²õ±è±ð³¦¾±³¾±ð²ÔÌý
• a specimen within a worked item or finished product that you acquired in its finished state before 3 March 1947Ìý
• specimens of certain animal species (or hybrids of them) born and bred in captivity and listed in Annex X of EC Regulation 865/2006Ìý
• artificially propagated specimens of plant speciesÌý
• dead specimens of crocodile (Crocodylia) species included in Annex A with source code D, as long as they’re legally marked or identified as per the regulationÌý
• caviar of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and its hybrids, with source code D, as long as it’s in a legally marked containerÌý

Gifts and donationsÌý

You do not need an Article 10 certificate if you want to:Ìý

• give your specimens awayÌý
• use or display them for non-commercial purposesÌý

If you receive a specimen as a gift, you must complete the WLRS02 form to confirm a gift or unconditional loan of a specimen that did not involve a commercial transaction.Ìý

You may not be allowed to sell a specimen that was a gift if there’s not enough information about how it was gifted.Ìý

You should ask the person who gave it to you for:Ìý

• the specimen’s originÌý
• details on how they came to possess the ²õ±è±ð³¦¾±³¾±ð²ÔÌý
• previous certificates and permits or other documentation, including non-CITES paperwork, to show legal origin and previous possessionÌý
• their contact detailsÌý

APHA may need to check this information if the new owner applies for an Article 10 certificate.Ìý

You’ll need to apply for an Article 10 certificate if:Ìý

• the gift involves some other type of exchange or benefit, including a charitable donationÌý
• you’re receiving the gift and plan to use the specimen for commercial purposesÌý

Before you apply

Getting a CITES permit

You must check if you also need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species.Ìý

Tigers, bear and rhinos: checking additional measures (stricter controls)

You must check if stricter controlsÌýapply toÌýyour specimen. Before you apply for your commercial use certificate, read the guidance on additional measures on the Check if you need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species page.

Marking species

You must mark specimens according to European regulation . The marking needed depends on what the specimen is.

Most live specimens must have one of the following:

• an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliant, uniquely numbered microchip
• a uniquely numbered seamless closed ring for birds –Ìýcheck how to register and mark birds of prey

If you need help marking specimens, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Buying endangered speciesÌý

Before you buy an Annex A species, you must make sure the seller has one of the following valid documents before applying for a certificate:

• an Article 10 certificate
• an Article 60 certificate
• a CITES import permit that allows a single commercial sale

If the specimen is covered by an Article 60 certificate, you must also have an Article 60 certificate. This means you need to meet the criteria to apply.

Apply for a certificateÌý

Use the apply for a CITES permit service to apply for an Article 10 or Article 60 certificate.

APHA and the relevant UK scientific authority will review any applications and decide whether to issue a certificate.

How long it takesÌý

APHA aims to process your application within 30 days. Your application will be assessed based on review by scientific advisers at:Ìý

• the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew – for plantsÌý
• the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) – for animalsÌý

If your application is accepted, you’ll get a printed, signed and stamped permit or certificate in the post.

If your application is refused, APHA will send you a letter explaining why.Ìý

If you’re granted an Article 10 certificate

Depending on APHA’s assessment of your application, you will either get a Specimen Specific Certificate or a Transaction Specific Certificate.

Specimen Specific CertificatesÌý(SSCs)

APHA issues SSCs for a specimen (not a permit holder), which must stay with the specimen for its life. You must give the SSC to the person buying the specimen.Ìý

You can apply for an SSC for an individual specimen. SSCs are valid for all commercial use, no matter who owns the specimen, unless the description of the specimen on the certificate changes.Ìý

SSCs issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) are only valid for use in Great Britain. Existing SSCs issued by either the UK or an EU member state on or before 31 December 2020, and located in Great Britain, continue to be valid in Great Britain.Ìý

SSCs issued in Northern Ireland are valid for use in Northern Ireland and the EU. Existing SSCs issued by either the UK or an EU member state on or before 31 December 2020, and located in Northern Ireland, are valid in Northern Ireland and the EU.Ìý

APHA only issues SSCs if:Ìý

• the specimen was introduced into the UK or the EU before it was listed in annex A or it was legally imported after that dateÌý
• the specimens are captive bred, which means they were born in captivity to 2 generations or beyond (captive breeding involves more than just breeding in a cage, aviary or enclosure – if you’re not sure, email APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk)Ìý
• the specimens must be uniquely and permanently marked according to regulationsÌý

Transaction Specific CertificatesÌý(TSCs)

APHA may issue a TSC for an individual specimen to a specific holder if the specimen:Ìý

• does not meet the criteria to be issued with an SSCÌý
• is not correctly markedÌý

TSCs are only valid for the person or business named on the certificate.Ìý

You will see a statement on the TSC telling you what you can use it for. This might be for:Ìý

• one sale only by the person named on the certificate, from the address shownÌý
• educational display, no saleÌý
• breeding, no saleÌý

The person buying the specimen must then apply for a new certificate if they plan to use the specimen for any commercial purpose.Ìý

Returning a certificate when you sellÌý

When you sell a specimen, you must make sure that you:Ìý

• show the new owner your Article 10 certificate and reference number, or give them a photocopy of your certificate clearly marked with ‘copy for information only’Ìý
• return the TSC to APHA immediately after passing the specimen over to another personÌý

If you cannot give the new owner a copy of the Article 10 certificate, you can give them an invoice quoting the number on the certificate.Ìý

If you’re granted an Article 60 certificate

You’llÌýonlyÌýbe able toÌýsell, exchange or loanÌýspecimens covered by the Article 60 certificateÌýto another Article 60 certificate holder.ÌýÌý

Article 60 certificatesÌýare valid:Ìý

• for up to 5 years, if issued on or after 23 June 2026Ìý
• untilÌý22 June 2031, if issued before 23 June 2026ÌýwithoutÌýanÌýexpiry dateÌý

APHAÌýwill inviteÌýholders of certificates without an expiry dateÌýto apply for replacement certificates in stages.ÌýTheyÌýwill contact you to let you know when to apply.

Other restrictions: Ivory

You’ll also need to meet separate rules if you intend to trade or move ivory (teeth or tusks, and items made from them) from any of the following species:

• elephant
• common hippopotamus
• killer whale
• narwhal
• sperm whale

Read the guide on dealing in items containing ivory or made of ivory.

Get helpÌý

If you need help with your application, contact the APHA team at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.