EU Wildlife Trade Reference Database

These may exist in cases where the SRG has examined whether or not imports in particular circumstances would comply with the conservation requirements of Regulation 338/97. The SRG opinion may change rapidly if new information about the trade or conservation status of a species in a particular country of origin becomes available. The opinion of the SRG will normally be followed by individual Scientific Authorities but is only indicative and Scientific Authorities of Member States can give a different opinion to that of the SRG (e.g. if new information becomes available). Where there is no SRG opinion, the decision about whether or not the conservation requirements of Regulation 338/97 are met will be taken by the Scientific Authority of the Member State in question. Should they find that the conditions are not met, this information will be immediately relayed to the other Member States and a uniform position adopted by all Member States.

When the SRG has given a negative opinion about the acceptability of the imports of a certain species from a certain country of origin (or in the case of species suffering high mortality in transport, unlikely to survive in captivity, or proven to cause ecological threat to native species), the European Commission will consult with the country of origin concerned and may subsequently establish a binding import restriction, which will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Member States will respect these restrictions until such time as they are lifted. The revised list of species subject to restrictions is given in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1988/2000 and Annexes.

The EU Wildlife Trade Reference Database below shows the current SRG opinions and community import restrictions. It can be used as an indication about whether or not an import permit might be issued in particular circumstances.

However, it should be clearly understood that firstly all other conditions (valid export permit, suitable housing conditions for live animals etc.) for the issue of a permit must be met, and secondly that the conservation circumstances surrounding species can and do change and this may result in a different consequence than that implied by the entries in the EU Wildlife Trade Reference Database tables.