CERTAIN pet and plant owners may find travelling a lot easier following an amendment to the former Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1981 that has been brought in this month.
The new Endangered Species Act 2010 states that when moving endangered plants and animals, separate importing and exporting licenses may no longer be needed.
Instead, owners can obtain a certificate that will last three-years when moving between the island and the UK.
This legislation has updated the enactment of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which is aimed at ensuring international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Senior biodiversity officer for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) Dr Richard Selman said: ‘This updated version should make it more clear to people. Owners used to have to get importing and exporting licences, but now they just have to get one certificate.
‘But if someone is moving elsewhere they will also need to check the requirements at the other end, as well as obtaining a certificate from the island to cover the export of the species.’
If you are not aware of what specimens are regulated, seek advice before travelling.
The DEFA is also warning consumers to check certain species are legally obtained before purchasing them.
Examples of the kinds of specimens that are controlled include certain species of parrots, tiger skins, elephant ivory, timber from neotropical big-leaf mahogany, hoodia extract, some tree ferns, euphorbias and cacti, and tortoises.
Native restricted fauna and flora includes falcons, harriers and owls, orchids, basking sharks, whales and dolphins, and the European eel.