Additional guidance notes for circuses and travelling exhibitions
You should read these additional guidance notes together with the general guidance notes for importers and exporters (GN1) and the general guidance notes for commercial use (GN2). These will give more detail on the exact procedures and requirements when you apply for licences.
These notes are for guidance only and are not a full statement of the law. If you need points of law to be explained, you should get independent legal advice.
This page is available as a downloadable document here 
- Introduction
- Use of specimens commercially
- Import and Export (Re) Export permits
- Marking
- Exemptions from marking
Introduction
Within the European Union (EU), circuses and other travelling exhibitions must apply for a certificate to allow the display of their Annex A animals or plants to the public for commercial purposes. If you wish to permanently import, export or re-export species listed on Annex A or B you will need permits and should read Guidance Note 1.
Use of specimens commercially within the EU
There are several types of certificates we may issue that allow either full or sometimes restricted commercial use within the EU. All must be issued by the country in which the specimen originates and fall into 3 categories.
- Travelling Exhibition Certificate
For captive bred or artificially propagated specimens, you can apply for a ‘Travelling Exhibition Certificate’. The purpose of this document is to enable exhibitions to cross national boundaries several times with out the need for further documentation. They will in effect cover three types of transaction: commercial display within the EU, import and the temporary(re)-export to and from countries outside the EU.
One certificate is required for each live animal, and is valid for up to 3 years. At the end of this period the specimen must be returned to the country that issued the certificate and a new certificate must be applied for.
Any plant specimens will need to be listed on a separate inventory sheet.
- Specimen specific certificates (SSCs)
These are one off certificates issued for a specific live animal and allow full commercial use of it, regardless who is in possession of it. They are valid for use throughout the EU and remain so for the whole life of the animal.
- Transaction specific certificates (TSCs)
These are certificates that are issued to the named holder of a specimen. They usually allow only restricted commercial use, and are only valid for one sale.
If you think you may need either of these types of certificate, you should read Guidance Note 2.
Import and Export (Re) Export permits
Any species listed on annex A or B of the EC Regulations must have both import and export permits for permanent movements in and out of the EU.
Marking Requirements
To be granted any of the above licences your specimens must be marked in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations. This usually means a uniquely numbered closed ring for birds, or an unalterable microchip that conforms to ISO Standards 11784:1996 and 11785:1996 (E) for some birds, and all mammals and reptiles.
Exemptions from Marking Requirements
In some cases exceptions to the marking requirements if there is evidence that the physical or behavioural characteristics mean that the methods of marking could harm the specimens.
Page last modified:22 February 2008
Page published:22 February 2008