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Brexit and implications for CITES trade in Ireland

Date Released: Thursday, November 12, 2020

Brexit and implications for CITES trade in Ireland

The UK has left the EU and the transition period will end on 31st December 2020. The following conditions will apply from 1st January 2021.

  • The UK will be treated as a third country as it is no longer a member of the EU and the transition period will have elapsed. As a result, once the transitional period has elapsed, any CITES listed trade between Ireland and the UK will be subject to CITES import/export regulations.
  • In effect, those companies or individuals transporting CITES listed goods – animal or plant, parts or derivatives, will need to apply for CITES import/export permits in order to move any CITES listed specimen to or from the UK

 

Movement of CITES listed goods to and from Northern Ireland to Ireland

The special arrangements for Northern Ireland agreed under the Northern Ireland Protocol aim to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is protected.  

In effect, this means that Northern Ireland, while part of the United Kingdom, will be treated in some respects as if it is still part of the EU for regulatory purposes. The EU proposal is that Northern Ireland would remain within the EU customs territory; it would follow an EU rule book for goods and agriculture; apply the Union’s VAT code; and would be excluded from post-Brexit trade deals agreed by the UK.

Enforcing the provisions will require customs and standards checks on east-west trade with Great Britain.   

As Northern Ireland will still be subject to certain EU Regulation:

  • There will not be a requirement for CITES import/export/ or re-export permits to move goods from Ireland to Northern Ireland.
  • Trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland should continue as it has been before Brexit.

 

Validity of UK issued EC Trade Certificates (Article 10)

  • UK issued EC Trade Certificates (Article 10) will cease to be valid for trade within the EU after 1st January 2021.
  • Holders of UK issued  EC Trade Certificates (Article 10) can contact the Irish CITES Management Authority and look for replacement Irish Certificates and the original UK issued Article 10 can be used as proof of legal acquisition.
  • Please note a replacement Certificate is only a requirement if the owner intends to trade in the specimen covered by the Certificate.

e.g. If a bird breeder has parent birds with UK Certificates and applies to the Irish CITES Management Authority for Article 10’s for the offspring (born in Ireland) it is not a requirement that they look for Article 10’s for the parent birds also.

If a breeder decides to sell one of the parent birds to another breeder then s/he would have to contact the Irish CITES Management Authority and look for a replacement for the UK certificate of the parent bird.

For Frequently Asked Questions and further information on Brexit and its implications for CITES trade please consult the following websites or contact the Irish CITES Management Authority by e-mail at cites@npws.gov.ie

https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/brexit_files/info_site/trade_in_protected_species_en_1.pdf

https://ec.europa.eu/ireland/news/key-eu-policy-areas/brexit_en

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_104

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/slides_the_wa_explained.pdf