No endangered animal and plant species may be brought to or imported into the Netherlands. Customs will confiscate these goods and draw up an official report.
Many animal and plant species are threatened with extinction if trade in these species is not prohibited. Special rules have been adopted worldwide in order to prevent extinction.
Trading in seriously endangered animal and plant species is prohibited.
The trade in less endangered animal and plant species is only permitted if the governments involved in that trade have issued special CITES documents. You will need:
Examples of protected animal and plant species and products derived from them:
If you still bring endangered animal and/or plant species into the Netherlands you will have to show the Customs authorities a CITES export licence or a CITES re-export certificate. These documents are issued by the competent authorities of the country where you bought the articles. The embassy of that country will be able to tell you which authority you should approach. In certain cases, you will even need a CITES import licence. Such licences are issued by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Please note!
If you have a CITES licence, you should take the red channel when passing through customs.
Di you need further information about bringing endangered animal and plant species into the Netherlands or taking endangered animal and plant species abroad? Please call the information desk of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Quality: 0800 – 22 333 22.
General information about endangered animal and plant species can be also found on the Internet sites of the organisations listed below:
Customs and other investigation services will check whether you have complied with these rules. If you don not comply with these rules you will be liable to punishment and can be prosecuted.
