General Guidance Note for the waiving of fees for CITES import /(re)export certificate applications.
This page is available as a downloadable document here 
- Introduction
- Examples of the activities that will be considered for the waiving of fees
- Questions you may be asked
Introduction
Under certain circumstances application fees may be waived. Each application is assessed on its merits, but where you can show that the primary purpose of the activity or transaction (i.e. import, (re-)export or certificate) is to further the conservation of the species then fees may be waived.
Examples of the activities that will be considered for the waiving of fees
Examples of activities that could potentially benefit from having application fees waived include:
Captive-breeding programmes: where the specimen is required for breeding or propagation purposes from which there are demonstrable conservation benefits for a species. This may include specimens being exchanged or introduced as part of an established breeding programme (European Endangered species breeding Programme – EEP) or in accordance with the studbook co-ordinators recommendations. In the case of Annex A species we would expect that the breeding programme be aimed as a priority at the long term protection of the affected species.
Re-introduction programmes: where the specimens are intended to be used in a recognised re-introduction programme that has the support of the government, relevant statutory agency or scientific authorities and follows the IUCN/SSC guidelines. Re-introductions or translocations of species for short-term, sporting or commercial purposes - where there is no intention to establish a viable population would not be considered acceptable.
Education and Training: where the specimens are intended to be used by government agencies or non-profit institutions for educational purposes aimed at the conservation of the species or CITES awareness. For example a static display of confiscated specimens that aims to alert travellers to CITES controls, or to train enforcement authorities in effective CITES controls
Scientific purposes: non-commercial loans, donations or exchanges between scientists or scientific institutions of specimens used in research programmes aimed at the conservation of the species, or imports/exports of specimens intended for scientific research purposes aimed at the conservation of the species, e.g. PhD students/scientists importing scientific samples for genetic analysis etc.
In general terms you will have to set out a case for the fee to be waived and answering the following questions will help us establish whether there is conservation benefit.
Questions you may be asked
Below are the types of questions that you should be a able to answer when making your case:
- Specify how the specimen will be used, for example, breeding and re-introduction, training, educational or research purposes.
- If appropriate please supply the name of the lead organisation for the breeding programme and if you have one, your Zoo Licence registration number.
- Will the specimen be put into a recognised breeding or re-introduction programme. Please supply brief details of the programme and the intended conservation benefits.
- What will happen to any offspring - will they be returned to the country of origin for further breeding or will they be used for further breeding in the UK or elsewhere?
- If there is an established release programme, has a success rate been established for the releases?
This is not an exhaustive list of questions, but examples of the type of information we will require to establish whether it would be appropriate to waive your application fees.
Page last modified:08 January 2008
Page published:31 January 2008