Public Servant Lifestyle

Holidaymakers should be careful to ensure the souvenirs of their travels abroad don't violate UK and international laws, warns Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight.

Mr Knight said that travellers needed to take special care that the souvenirs they brought home did not contain products derived from animals or plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The Biodiversity Minister said: "It's great to bring home mementos of the summer holidays - but holidaymakers should make sure they're aware of the laws dealing with the trade in endangered species. The illegal trade in souvenirs for tourists threatens some of the world's most endangered animals and plants. Trade controls exist to protect these species, and travellers' shopping decisions can help them survive.

Endangered

"Stopping the trade in these products helps to protect important endangered species - often the very animals and plants that people are actually travelling to see. It can be tempting to buy exotic souvenirs like reptile-skin handbags and ivory carvings while on holidays abroad, but travellers should be aware of international controls.

"Some products made from endangered species are easily identifiable - but others can be more difficult to spot, making it harder to know which goods to avoid buying as souvenirs or gifts. It's important for global travellers to inform themselves of the issues surrounding trade in endangered species."

More than 800 species of animals and plants are currently banned from international trade, including tigers, most populations of rhinos and elephants, and whales, and a further 33,000 are strictly controlled, including many turtles, corals, reptiles, orchids and cacti.

In the United Kingdom HM Revenue & Customs has responsibility for enforcing the sanctions on importing endangered species or their derivatives. Between 1 April and 31 December 2004 over 775,000 items were seized under CITES, including over 7,000 live animals and birds.

Banned Goods

Banned goods include products made from tiger, leopard and jaguar skins; traditional medicines containing tiger bone, rhino horn, or other highly endangered plants and animals. Strictly controlled items include tortoiseshell goods; and jewellery made from endangered coral.

Mr Knight says that if travellers were considering bringing back exotic souvenirs from abroad, before travelling they should check with Defra about which products were legal, and the permits that may be required.

"If you try to import controlled goods without valid permits, or try to bring banned goods into the country, your goods will be seized and in more serious cases you could face further penalties," he said.

Travellers can also check while they are abroad by contacting the CITES Management Authority of their host country, if applicable. Contact details can be found here.

A brief guide to some of the most common products travellers are likely to come across is available here.

Photograph of Biodiversity Minister Jim Knight is © Crown Copyright 2006

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