Additional guidance notes for primate imports
You should read these guidance notes together with the general guidance notes for importers and
exporters (GN1), and the general guidance notes for commercial use within the European Union (GN2), where appropriate.
These notes are only for guidance 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 
Housing requirements
Before authorising the import of a primate, the EU countries have to be satisfied that the intended accommodation is adequately equipped to protect and care for the specimen. If you keep annex B specimens and plan to pass them to somebody else, you must make sure that that person is aware of the accommodation, equipment and practices needed to make sure that the animals will be properly cared for.
Imports are also restricted to people receiving the specimens who have been approved under Council Directive 92/65/EEC (‘The Balai Directive’).
Applications to import specimens
Wild Annex A specimens:
You cannot carry out commercial trade in annex A species of specimens taken from the wild. We will consider each application to import specimens for noncommercial purposes individually. The following conditions must be met.
- We must be satisfied that the import will not harm the conservation of the species and that the specimens are needed for essential biomedical research, or for educational, research or breeding purposes that are aimed at protecting the species.
- You must send us a copy of the permit issued by the exporting country.
- You must send us evidence that the person receiving the specimen is approved under the Balai Directive.
- We must be satisfied that the intended final accommodation is adequately equipped to protect and care for the specimens. If the person who is going to receive the primate is based in another EU country, they must apply to the relevant management authority. We cannot accept applications from dealers who have not yet identified who is to finally receive the specimens.
- We must be satisfied that there are no conservation reasons for refusing importation.
A movement restriction applies to all imports of wild annex A specimens. You also need a certificate from us before the specimen can be moved to a location other than that shown in the import permit.
Other specimens:
Commercial trade may be allowed in annex B and for annex A specimens bred in captivity. We will consider applications for permits to import specimens individually. However, the following minimum conditions must be met.
- We must be satisfied that the importation would not harm the conservation of the species.
- You must send us a copy of the permit issued by the exporting country.
- You must send us evidence that the person receiving the specimen is approved under the Balai Directive.
- You must send us evidence that accommodation is suitably-equipped to protect and care for the specimen.
- We must be satisfied that there are no relevant conservation reasons for refusing importation.
A condition restricting sale to Balai-approved premises applies to all import permits and Article 10 certificates. Importers must also make sure that the person receiving the specimen is aware of the accommodation, equipment and practices necessary to make sure that the animals will be properly cared for. An import permit does not authorise you to use annex A specimens for commercial purposes - this must be covered by a separate certificate(see GN2).
Primates listed under annex A and appendix I
A list is available here and also in the downloadable version of this guidance
Page last modified:08 January 2008
Page published:31 January 2008