Bringing an ivory figurine, a snakeskin bag or a piece of coral as a souvenir from your holiday may seem like an harmless act. These CITES-protected souvenirs are often freely available in remote tourist destinations, but that does not mean they are free to cross the border.
Keep this in mind when you go on holiday. It will help you avoid problems at customs.
On this page
- Going on holiday? Don't forget about CITES !
- Bring back your souvenirs legally
- Help protect endangered animal and plant species
- More information
Going on holiday? Don't forget CITES !
Every year, a large number of protected animal and plant species are illegally imported into Belgium, as are their products derived from them: fur, caviar, works of art ...
These illegal imports are not always the work of organised crime. More often, it is tourists who - without second thought - take these objects with them as souvenirs.
This kind of purchase can have serious consequences:
- trade in illegal souvenirs is detrimental to the survival of many protected species ;
- customs may confiscate these souvenirs at the border ;
- you may be fined or prosecuted.
Do you have the slightest doubt about the legality of an item you want to buy?
In that case, it's better not to buy it. Bring only your own souvenirs and holiday photos, and you will help protect nature.
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Does CITES apply to souvenirs ?
CITES covers live animals and plants, as well as products made from animals and plants, such as crocodile leather, turtle shells, wooden statues and coral necklaces.
These products are protected by CITES to prevent overexploitation of the wild animal or plant from which they are derived.
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Be careful !
Souvenirs made from animal and plant species protected by CITES may be freely available in the country you are visiting. But that does not mean they can be bought and cross the border legally .
The opposite is also possible: the country of origin may apply stricter measures, thus protecting a ‘souvenir’ on national level.
Sellers, even if they sell legal items, may not be aware of the requirements for CITES import and export permits.
Always check for yourself which provisions apply to the items you buy. This way, you can avoid unpleasant surprises at the border. Moreover, it can easily take several weeks to obtain the required CITES document.
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The most seized souvenirs in the European Union
- Bags, belts, shoes and watch straps made of crocodile, alligator and snakeskin
- Shells and coral, for example in the form of jewellery
- Traditional medicines or products from East Asia made from
- tiger bone
- rhino horn
- bear bile
- musk (scent of musk deer)
- protected plants
- Orchids and cacti
- Live birds, reptiles and scorpions
- Shahtoosh scarves, product of the Tibetan antilope
- Objets made of ivory and elephant skin
- Sculptures of mahogany or ebony
Bring back your souvenirs legally
Bringing souvenirs made with products or parts of species protected by CITES from a country outside the European Union into Belgium is in fact an import and export.
To cross the border without problems, you must have the necessary CITES permits.
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Legal import
You need CITES documents if you want to import a protected species into Belgium.
How do I know which documents I need ?
- Check whether the species in the souvenir(s) is protected by CITES and in which appendix it is listed.
You can find the necessary information on Species protected by CITES (available in English). If you are already familiar with how CITES works, you can consult the Species+ site to find information on the species you are interested in. - Get more information from the CITES management authority of the country where you are in holiday.
- Consult the information on the following pages of our website :
- For general rules on importing specimens of CITES-protected species from a country outside the European Union or (re)exporting to a country outside the Union : Trade in protected species with countries outside the European Union (currently only available in French and Dutch)
- For the exceptions when travelling or moving: Travelling or moving within, to or outside the European Union (available in English)
Help protect endangered animals and plants species
Don't buy souvenirs of protected animals or plants: nature will thank you!
Have you noticed something suspicious or illegal abroad?
Don't take risks: don't try to intervene or investigate something yourself, but alert the police services.