People are being urged not to import endangered wildlife products into the Isle of Man without a permit, to help protect global biodiversity and prevent illegal wildlife trade.
Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), certain endangered species, and their by-products, require specific permits to ensure that international trade does not threaten their survival.
These regulations are enforced under the Endangered Species Act, which governs the movement of specified species to and from the Isle of Man.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) encourages people to check their needs against the species and products that require permits, well before travel to allow for permit applications, in order to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. Examples of items that require permits include:
- Species such as tortoises, many snakes, and most parrots
- Products derived from endangered animals, such as ivory, European eel, and sturgeon
- Coral, hunting trophies, and various plants, including snowdrops, cacti, euphorbias, and orchids (with some exceptions, such as propagated vanilla pods, some labelled commercial orchids, and specific commercial seeds)
Clare Barber MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said:
'Protecting biodiversity is vital for sustaining our delicate ecosystems and ensuring the survival of countless species across the planet.
'By regulating the trade of endangered wildlife products, we’re helping to prevent species decline and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both nature and future generations. We urge everyone to respect these protections and help us.'
It is important to note that some items cannot be certified under CITES. For instance, ivory has strict date cut-offs, and the origin and provenance of items must be verifiable for certification to be issued.
If individuals have any doubts about a specific item or species, or require more information about CITES regulations, they can contact DEFA’s Ecosystem Policy Team by calling +44 1624 685835, or emailing ecosystems@gov.im. People can also access guidance and permit application forms on the DEFA website.
