Designated land, sea and air ports for trading or moving CITES endangered species
The designated land, sea and air ports for trading or moving CITES endangered animals, plants or their parts and derivatives.
You must use a land, sea or air port designated for CITES movements when importing or exporting CITES specimens.
CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. A specimen is a living or dead animal or plant (or any of its parts or derivatives), or an item made from these.
If you do not use a designated port, UK Border Force can seize your specimen and take criminal action against you and anyone else involved. This applies even if you hold a valid permit.
CITES-designated points of entry and exit
There are customs offices at the following points of entry and exit designated for CITES trade.
You can use these airports:
- Belfast International
- Birmingham International
- Bristol International
- Cardiff International
- East Midlands
- Edinburgh
- Gatwick
- Glasgow International
- Glasgow Prestwick
- Humberside
- London Heathrow
- London Luton
- London Stansted
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Southampton International
You can use these ports:
- Belfast Seaport
- Dover
- Eurotunnel
- Felixstowe
- Fishguard
- Harwich international
- Heysham
- Holyhead
- Hull
- Immingham
- Killingholme
- Larne
- Liverpool Seaforth Container Terminal
- London Gateway (Port of London)
- Pembroke
- Plymouth
- Poole
- Portsmouth International Port
- Southampton ABP
- Teesport
- Tilbury (Port of London)
Postal hubs
Postal hubs have been designated at:
- Coventry International Parcel Post Hub
- Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC)
These can only be used by Royal Mail, postal courier services and Border Force to check CITES parcels. Postal hubs cannot be used by the public.
Read how to import and export CITES specimens by post.
Moving live animals and animal products
You can export CITES live animals and animal products through any CITES point of exit. You can check with the point of exit to see if they have the facilities to handle your export.
If you’re importing live CITES animals or animal products, you should check if you need to meet specific welfare or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules. These could mean you need extra documents or checks.
Check the guidance on importing live animals and animal products to find the risk category for your animal or animal product and the related SPS rules.
If you need extra documents or checks, you must use a CITES point of entry that both:
- is listed in the ‘designated points or entry and exit’ section
- has a border control post that can complete checks on the animal or animal product you’re moving – check the list of authorised border control posts for animals and animal products
Preparing to use a point of entry or exit
At most CITES points of entry and exit, you can:
- arrive without telling Border Force in advance
- present your CITES documentation for endorsement at the same location
However, there are specific requirements for the following points of entry and exit.
Humberside airport
If you’re transporting CITES specimens through Humberside airport, you must tell Border Force at least 24 hours before you’re due to arrive.
Contact Border Force by:
Telephone: +44 (0)300 106 5302
Email: BFImminghamFAST@homeoffice.gov.uk
Belfast Seaport
If you’re transporting live animals through Belfast Seaport, you must tell Border Force Belfast at least 24 hours before you’re due to arrive to book an appointment. If you arrive during office hours, you’ll usually be seen within the hour.
The office opening hours are Monday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm. You must enter the Border Force Belfast processing area no later than 3:30pm.
Belfast Seaport address:
Eyden House
5 Westbank Drive
Belfast
BT3 9LA
Telephone: +44 (0)3000 738 256
Email: bfportteam@homeoffice.gov.uk
Port of Dover
If you’re moving CITES specimens through Dover port, you’ll need to present your CITES documentation to Border Force for endorsement at Dover Western Docks.
Dover Western Docks address:
Freight Clearance Centre
Lord Warden Square
Western Docks
Dover
CT17 9EQ
Eurotunnel
Importing through Eurotunnel
To import CITES specimens into Great Britain through Eurotunnel, you must present your CITES documents to UK Border Force for endorsement at the UK border control point before boarding the train.
Exporting through Eurotunnel
To export CITES specimens from the UK through Eurotunnel, you can present your CITES documents to Border Force at either:
- an inland border facility – read the guidance on attending an inland border facility
- another suitable designated point of entry and exit sea port – check the list in the ‘CITES-designated points of entry and exit’ section
Getting temporary approval to use another point of entry or exit
In exceptional circumstances, you can apply to APHA for temporary approval to use a point of entry or exit that is not designated for CITES movements.
APHA can only grant temporary approval in exceptional circumstances where all of the following apply:
- there are urgent conservation or animal welfare needs related to the specimens being moved
- the purpose of import or export is not primarily commercial
- none of the CITES-designated points of entry or exit are available
- the proposed port is equipped to carry out the necessary checks
If you would like to request temporary approval, contact APHA as early as possible to discuss your situation. APHA will assess requests on a case-by-case basis.
Contact Border Force
Find contact details and opening hours in the Border Force customs offices contact list.
Contact APHA
You can contact APHA for support with trading or moving endangered animals or plants listed under CITES at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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Added a warning that UK Border Force can seize your specimen or take criminal action if you do not use a designated port. Updated guidance on which ports to use when moving live animals and animal products. Clarified how to prepare to visit points of entry and exit, including for imports through Eurotunnel. Outlined how to apply for temporary approval to use another point of entry or exit in exceptional circumstances. Updated Border Force contact details.
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Added a new port to the list of CITES-designated points of entry and exit.
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Removed contact details for the inland border facility at Ebbsfleet, which has closed.
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First published.