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Overseas

Q: Importing live stage animals

I am a German artist whose stage act uses five snakes. I should like to perform in Britain, but I have been told that there has recently been a change in the law governing the importing of animals. Please could you tell me what documentation I shall need?

A: There is a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (known as CITES) which restricts not just trading in, but also the importation and movement of certain controlled species, and is given legal force by European Council Regulation 338197 and European Commission Regulation 939197.

There are more than 800 species of animals and plants currently banned from international trade and a further 25,000 which are strictly controlled by CITES. These endangered species include many reptiles, but whether your particular ones are included will depend on their particular Latin names.

The good news is that reptiles are not subject to quarantine laws. As far as I can make out, if your snakes are common or garden species of no particular rarity or significance you would not require any documentation to move them freely within EU member states other than, perhaps, some evidence to show what kind of snakes they are so that you can satisfy Customs that they are not on the CITES list. If they are CITES specimens they can still be freely circulated within the European Union but, when taking them through Customs, evidence may be required to confirm their origin and that they were lawfully imported or acquired by you.

Such evidence can be provided in a number of ways, for example by producing a bill of sale or an original import certificate. To save time at Customs, you can apply in advance for a CITES permit or certificate which you can produce to Customs when bringing the snakes into Britain. You should be able to obtain such a permit or certificate from the CITES Department of the German Ministry of Environment. Alternatively, you can obtain an application form from the British authorities by contacting CITES Enquiries Desk, Department of Environment, Room 8122 Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol BS2 9DJ. Tel: 0117 987 8749, Fax: 0117 987 8206. That department runs a wildlife licensing and registration service.

In your case, since the snakes are required for a stage act and presumably will he taken back with you when you return to Germany, I do not imagine you will have a problem in obtaining the required permit even if the snakes are protected species. The regulations are so lengthy and complex that they cannot be summarised within the confines of the limited space available to me. However, the Global Wildlife Division of the UK Department of Environment will, on request, be helpful in guiding you through them and explaining precisely what regulatory requirements apply to your particular species of reptile.

It may be worth my mentioning, in passing, that if the snakes are dangerous, you will owe a duty of care to the public at large to take all reasonable steps to ensure that they do not escape and cause bodily injury to any third party.

First published November 1998