Form

Article 10 certificate for CITES-protected live birds: guidance for completing form FED1012

Updated 6 June 2022

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It aims to protect endangered animals and plants.

This guidance will help you apply for an Article 10 certificate for a live bird that is protected by CITES. The certificate allows you to use the bird for commercial purposes.

When you fill out the form, include all the information we ask for in this guidance. We will contact you if we need extra information, but this may slow down your application.

When you need an Article 10 certificate

You need an Article 10 certificate if both of the following apply:

• your bird is listed in CITES EU/GB Annex A
• you are going to use your bird for commercial gain (also known as financial gain)

Examples of commercial gain include:

• selling the bird or its offspring
• keeping the bird for sale
• transporting the bird for sale
• displaying the bird to the public for commercial gain

Do not arrange to sell or use your bird commercially until you receive your Article 10 certificate.

You do not need to apply for an Article 10 certificate if:

• you are keeping the bird as a pet
• you’re going to give the bird to somebody as a gift

If you give the bird as a gift, you should confirm the gift in a signed and dated letter that also includes your address. In the letter, you should tell the new owner:

• everything you know about the bird’s origin
• how you got the bird
• the Article 10 numbers of its parents
• the bird’s closed ring number

Check if your bird is listed in CITES

To check if your bird is listed in CITES EU/GB Annex A, you need the full, scientific name of your bird’s species, which will be in Latin. If you’re unsure you can:

• search online
• ask your local library
• contact your vet

We cannot accept common names and we cannot identify species.

Once you know your bird’s scientific name, search for it on Species Plus. The EU/GB Annex for your bird is listed further down the page in the section ‘EU Wildlife Trade Regulations’. You can also get to this section via the tab, ‘EU Listing’.

The EU Annex is the same as the GB Annex. So, EU Annex A is the same as GB Annex A.

If your bird is listed as EU/GB Annex A, you must apply for an Article 10 certificate.

You can check the common English name of your bird via the ‘Names’ tab. You need this information for the section, ‘Common name of species’ (box 16). If several common names are listed, use the first.

Pay the fees

You must pay fees to cover the cost of your application. The fees are:

• £31 for a bird
• £1.50 for each additional bird bred from the same parents in the same breeding season

If an additional bird doesn’t have the same parents, you pay the full fee (£31) for that bird.

We will process your application when we receive your payment. You can pay with your credit or debit card by phoning 01633 631 800, or send a cheque or postal order to:

UK CITES Management Authority
Centre for International Trade – Bristol
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

You will need to tell us the correct fee. If you’re unsure, phone 0117 372 3700 or email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk

When you pay, ask for a payment reference number and add it to your application form. We can also email this to you.

Download the right application form

Download the application form and complete it electronically if you can. Electronic forms are easier to read and quicker to process.

• use application form FED1012 GB if you are applying from England, Scotland or Wales
• use application form FED1012 NI if you are applying from Northern Ireland

If you cannot download a form, we can send you a paper copy. You can request this by phone 0117 372 3700 or email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk

Fill in the application form

Write ‘N/A’ (which means ‘not applicable’) in any box you are not using. If you do not, we may assume the information is missing and contact you.

Firstly, tick the box that reads ‘Certificate for commercial activities’. It’s in the top right-hand corner of the form.

Then fill in each box of the form as described below.

Applicant (box 1)

Write your name and contact details – not those of an agent.

Write (BREEDER) in brackets after your name if you are the breeder of the birds. If you have a breeder ID number from a previous application add this as well.

If you have appointed an agent to apply on your behalf:

• you must sign and date a letter that gives the name and address of your agent and authorises them to act on your behalf
• tell us in the letter if we should send the Article 10 certificate to you or your agent – we only send certificates to a UK postal address
• the agent must send that letter with the application

If you are including a letter that authorises an agent, let us know in box 20 (‘Remarks’).

Authorised location for live specimens Annex A species (box 2)

Fill in this box if your bird has been taken from the wild (source W). If not, write ‘N/A’.

Issuing Management Authority (box 3)

This box is pre-printed with the UK CITES address.

Description of specimens (box 4)

If you run out of space, you can send additional information by:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH
• box 20 (‘Remarks’)

Start your description with LIV, which means ‘Live’.

You must include each bird’s:

• simple or common name (for example Owl, Falcon)
• hybrid name, if applicable, with the scientific names of the different species separated by an ‘X’ (for example, Falco rusticolus X Falco cherrug)
• sex (male, female or sex unknown)
• closed ring number (you can only use a seamless closed ring, not a split ring) or 15-digit microchip number (if you are using a microchip instead of a closed ring, you must tell us why)
• hatch date (day, month and year, or month and year, or ‘Hatch date: unknown’)

If you do not know the hatch date, you must tell us why in box 20 (‘Remarks’), or in a covering email or letter.

For each bird’s male and female parent you must provide both the:

• Article 10 certificate or EU certificate number
• closed ring or microchip numbers

If you have an EU Article 10 certificate, you must include a copy with your application.

If you do not know any of this information, write ‘Unknown’ and tell us why.

Try to create a unique closed ring number, rather than a short sequence of numbers and letters. For example, a sequential number, followed by a postcode or the breeder’s initials and phone number.

If you are a breeder and you do not own the parent birds, or you have purchased or been gifted semen for artificial insemination, then you need to provide:

• the source bird’s species, Article 10 number (not a bird registration document number) and closed ring or microchip number
• your name and address
• a copy of a gifting letter or an invoice or receipt from the donor

If the parent birds have produced an unusually large clutch size and you are applying for Article 10 certificates for the offspring, tell us about the breeding methods used.

Examples of descriptions of birds

LIV

One live male barn owl

Closed ring number: OWL01TEL01231456035

Hatch date: 03/04/2021

Parent female A10 number: XXXXXX/01, closed ring number WEL0072257

LIV

One live peregrine falcon (sex unknown)

Microchip number: 915000258741254

Hatch date: 03/2021

Parent female A10 no: XXXXXX/01, closed ring no WEL0072257

Parent male A10 no: XXXXXX/01, microchip number: 012345678912345

Example of a description of a hybrid bird

LIV

One live female hybrid falcon (Falco rusticolus X Falco cherrug)

Closed ring number 123044-01 GB

Hatch date: 05/05/2019

Parent female A10 no: XXXXXX/01, closed ring no WEL0072257

Parent male A10 no: XXXXXX/01, microchip number: 012345678912345

Net mass (kg) (box 5)

Write ‘N/A’ in this box.

Quantity (box 6)

You must use a separate application form for each bird, so the quantity is always 1.

CITES appendix (box 7)

You need to tell us which CITES Appendix your bird is listed in. To do this:

• search for the scientific name of your bird on Species Plus
• Species Plus will then tell you the CITES Appendix number – I, II or III (ignore any other letters and always use the number from the most recent listing)

For hybrid birds, you need to check the individual species. This is because Species Plus does not include the names of hybrid birds – only individual species. If the individual species have different CITES Appendix numbers, tell us the highest.

GB Annex (box 8)

You need to confirm that your bird is in GB Annex A. The EU Annex is the same as the GB Annex. So, EU Annex A is the same as GB Annex A.

If your bird is not in GB/EU Annex A, you do not need an Article 10 certificate.

To do this:

• search for the scientific name of your bird on Species Plus
• the EU Annex for your bird is listed in the section EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, which is further down the page
• you only need to check the most recent Annex (a date is shown beside each Annex)

Source (box 9)

This is where you tell us about your bird’s origins.

There are 10 sources listed on the back of the form – you choose 1. We have listed here the most common sources.

If you are unsure which code to use, email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or phone 0117 372 3700.

If you are including additional information, let us know in box 20 (‘Remarks’).

C – birds bred in captivity

C is the most common source.

Use C if the Article 10 certificates for the parent birds also show C.

If you’re unsure of the definition of captivity, check Article 54 of Chapter XIII of Regulation (EC) No 865/2006

F – birds born in captivity but not captive bred

If you’re unsure of the definition of captivity, check Article 54 of Chapter XIII of Regulation (EC) No 865/2006

U – source unknown

Use U if you do not have evidence that the bird was captive bred.

You must clearly explain the following:

• how you got the bird
• where you got it from
• when you got it

For example, a signed letter from the person who gifted you the bird, or a copy of a dated invoice from the seller.

O – pre-convention

Use O if your bird hatched before its species name was added to the CITES list (this is regardless of Annex or Appendix).

D – CITES registered breeder

Use D if you are a CITES-registered breeder and the UK CITES management authority has confirmed your registration.

R – birds bred and raised in a controlled environment

This includes birds taken from the wild (as eggs or young) that would not have survived to adulthood.

W – birds taken from the wild

I – confiscated or seized

Use if customs or other law enforcement officers seized your bird.

You must give us the details and include any seizure reference numbers and letters from law enforcement officers.

Country of origin (box 10)

Write the name of the country where your bird was taken from the wild, born and bred in captivity, or bred through artificial insemination.

Permit number (box 11)

If your bird came from outside the UK, write the export permit number for that country. Otherwise, write ‘N/A’.

Date of issue (box 12)

If your bird has an export permit, write the issue date that’s on the export permit. Otherwise, write ‘N/A’.

Country of import (box 13)

If somebody imported the bird into a country within the European Union (EU) before 1 January 2021 (this includes the UK), write the name of that EU member state.

If somebody imported the bird into the UK after 1 January 2021, write ‘UNITED KINGDOM’.

Otherwise, write ‘N/A’.

Document number (box 14)

If somebody imported your bird into the EU or UK, write the import certificate number. If not, write ‘N/A’.

You should include a copy of the customs stamped EU or UK import permit with your application. Tell us you are including it in box 20 (‘Remarks’).

Date of Issue  (box 15)

If your bird has an import permit, write the issue date that’s on the import permit. Otherwise, write ‘N/A’.

Scientific name of species (box 16)

Write the full, scientific name of your bird’s species, which will be in Latin. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of this name, which you can do by:

• searching online
• asking your local library
• contacting your vet

We cannot accept common names and CITES cannot identify species.

If your bird is a hybrid, you must write the scientific names of the different species separated by an ‘X’. For example, Falco rusticolus X Falco cherrug.

Common name of species (if available) (box 17)

Write the common name of your bird.

On Species Plus, the ‘Names’ tab will tell you the common English name of your bird. Use the first name if more than one name is shown.

If no common name is shown on Species Plus, write ‘Unknown’.

I hereby certify the specimens described above (box 18)

Tick the statement that best describes where your bird comes from. You can tick more than 1 box.

For some statements, you have to send us supporting information. You can enclose this with your application or send it by covering email or letter.  If you are including anything, tell us in box 20 (‘Remarks’).

a) tick if somebody removed your bird from the wild. You must include supporting evidence telling us when, where and why this happened.

b) tick if your bird escaped or somebody abandoned it. You must include supporting evidence telling us when, where and why this happened.

c) tick if your bird was captive bred. You must also tell us:

• the Article 10 numbers
• identification marks
• hatch dates for both parents
• signed statements, certificates, permits and invoices from the previous owners if you are not the breeder

d) tick if somebody acquired or imported your bird into a country that was part of the European Union (EU) after 9 December 1996. You must provide supporting evidence.

e) tick if somebody acquired or imported your bird into a country that was part of the European Union (EU) before 1 June 1997. You must provide supporting evidence.

f) tick if somebody acquired or imported your bird into a country that was part of the European Union (EU) before 1 January 1984. You must provide supporting evidence.

g) tick if somebody acquired or imported your bird into a country that was part of the European Union (EU) before 3 December 1982. You must provide supporting evidence.

I request a document for the purpose of (box 19)

Tell us how you are going to use your Article 10 certificate by ticking box b), c) or d). You can ignore the other boxes.

b) tick if you want full commercial use of your bird. This includes:

• selling your bird
• breeding your bird to sell its offspring
• displaying your bird for financial gain

c) tick if you only want to display your bird to the public. If you select option c), you cannot

• sell the bird
• breed the bird to sell its offspring

d) tick if you want to use your bird for the following non-commercial purposes:

• breeding
• education
• research
• science

If applicable, provide supporting information about your breeding, research or education programme. If you select option d), you cannot:

• sell the bird
• breed the bird to sell its offspring
• display the bird for financial gain

The Article 10 certificate we send you may not reflect your selection above and it may contain special conditions.

Remarks (box 20)

Use this box to tell us about any supporting information or documents you are providing. If there is not enough space, you can include the information in an email or covering letter:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH

An example of how to fill in ‘Remarks’ (box 20)

Enclosed with application:

1. Letter authorising [named person] to act as my agent to make this application. Please send all correspondence and certificates to my agent.
2. Copies of parent A10/EU certificate issued in [country] for [sex] parent.
3. Letter from [named person] confirming gifting of bird to me on [date].

Signature and date

Sign and date your application, and tell us where (place, town, city) in the UK you are. By signing, you are confirming that all the information you have provided is correct.

Application checklist and sample application form

If you would like help completing your form, we can send you:

• an application checklist – you can complete this and include it with your application
• a completed, sample application form – to help you complete each section

To request these, email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or phone 0117 372 3700.

Submitting your application

It’s quickest to send your application by email to CITESapplication@apha.gov.uk

Send any scans of completed forms and supporting documents as email attachments. Do not paste them into the text of the email. Check that any scans are easy to read.

Write your email address on the signature line or in box 20 (‘Remarks’) on the application form.

You should include this line in your email: ‘I [your name] am the owner of the email account below and I am also the applicant.’

Posting your application

You can post your application to:

UK CITES Management Authority
Centre for International Trade
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

You can phone us on 0117 372 3700 to check that we’ve received your application. To help us find your application, we need to know the following:

• the date you posted your application
• your name
• your postcode

Timescales

We aim to process applications and issue certificates within 30 days. Some applications may take longer if we need additional information or scientific advice.

If your application is urgent, let us know why in your email or covering letter.

Receiving your certificate

We send Article 10 certificates by first-class post (Royal Mail).

If you would like your certificate to arrive the next day, there is a fee for special delivery. Phone us to request this on 0117 372 3700.

Collecting your certificate

If you would like to collect your certificate from our Bristol office, tell us in box 20 (‘Remarks’). We will phone you when it is ready.

Our office address is UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH.

Errors on your certificate

When you receive your certificate, check if all the details are correct.

If we have made an error, we can send you a corrected, replacement certificate. You must post the incorrect certificate back to us.

If you have made an error, we can send you a corrected, replacement certificate for a small fee of £1.50.

Unsuccessful applications

A lack of supporting information is the most common reason for an unsuccessful application or a restricted certificate. Be sure to include enough information about:

• your bird, especially the hatch date and ring number
• the parents of your bird, especially their Article 10 numbers and ring numbers
• the breeding details for your bird if you’ve inherited, purchased or been gifted it

If your application is unsuccessful, you can keep your bird as a pet or gift it to somebody else, but you cannot use it for any commercial purpose, including:

• selling the bird or its offspring
• keeping the bird for sale
• transporting the bird for sale
• selling the bird to somebody else
• displaying the bird to the public for financial gain

See a completed form

If you would like to see a completed Article 10 form to help you fill in your own form, email us wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk

Contact us

Where we ask you to provide supporting information and copies of other documents you can do this by:

• email: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
• covering letter: UK CITES Management Authority, Centre for International Trade – Bristol, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH
• box 20 (‘Remarks’)