CITES Registered Breeders
Guidance for applying to become a CITES Registered Breeder
This guidance is broken up into the following parts:
Section 1: Becoming a CITES Registered Breeder
Section 2: Application process
Section 3: Information required to apply to be a CITES Registered Breeder
Section 4: Conference Resolution 12.10
Section 5: Contact us.
Section 1: Becoming a CITES Registered Breeder
After a Secretariat visit in relation to captive breeding and exports of especially birds of prey in 2022, the UK were found to be non-compliant and are now having to show that we are taking steps for all captive breeding facilities of CITES appendix I species and hybrids thereof become CITES Registered Breeders. The implications of this requirement being met are vast and could lead to trade with other countries being suspended or withdrawn.
As a consequence of this we are advising all breeders of annex I (including hybrids thereof) to look into the process to become a CITES Registered Breeder and attempt to work towards the requirements set out by the Conference Resolution 12.10.
Applying to become a CITES Registered Breeder is a lengthy process that can take a number of months to complete. We are therefore making you aware of this process in the hopes that breeders will start the application process before the secretariat suspend trade. We hope this will reduce the possibility of large numbers of applications being received at once and the likelihood if applications being delayed.
Section 2: Application process
Please email wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk to request an application form, complete the application form in as much detail as possible.
Annex 1 to Conference Resolution 12.10 sets out the information required by the CITES Secretariat. This is the information that you will need to supply to us.
The information will be forwarded to our Scientific Authority (SA) for animals at Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). They may come back requesting clarification and further information should it be required; this will be requested by a member of the CITES Team via email/letter explaining exactly what is required of you to provide.
In order to ensure that all the information set out in Annex 1 is captured, JNCC are likely to advise that an inspection by one of our Wildlife Inspectors is required. If this is the case, the Wildlife Inspector will contact you to make arrangements.
Once all the information set out in Annex 1 has been provided, we will forward this information to the CITES Secretariat.
The Secretariat will then verify that the requirements of Annex 1 have been met and the application will be posted on a website for a period of 90 days, during which time other Parties can express concerns or objections. If no objections or concerns are raised within this time, the name and particulars of the operation will be published in the register. We will write to confirm that this has happened. (detailed information on this stage and what happens if an objection is received can be found in Annex 2 of the Conference Resolution 12.10)
Section 3: Information required to apply to be a CITES Registered Breeder
Contact Details: Indicate the name and address of the owner and manager of the captive-breeding operation.
Date: Date the breeding facility was established.
Species Bred: Indicate the Appendix-I species proposed for registration.
Parental Breeding Stock: Indicate the numbers and ages of males and females that comprise the parental breeding stock.
Proof of Legal Acquisition: Provide evidence that the parental stock has been obtained in accordance with relevant national measures and provisions of the Convention (e.g. CITES documents, Bird Registration documents). Please attach copies of supporting documents to the application.
Other Stock: Indicate the current stock (numbers, by sex and age, held in addition to the parental breeding stock above).
Mortality Rate: Provide information on the mortality rate, if possible, reported by age and sex.
Reproduction: Provide documentation showing either:
a) that the operation has bred at least two generations of the species and a description of the method used: or
b) if the operation has only bred one generation of the species, that the husbandry methods used are the same as, or similar to, those that have resulted in second-generation offspring in other operations.
Annual Production: Indicate the past, current and expected annual production of offspring and, where possible, information on:
a) the number of females producing offspring each year; and
b) unusual fluctuations in the annual production of offspring (including an explanation of the probable cause).
Need for Additional Specimens: Provide an assessment of the anticipated need for, and source of, additional specimens to augment the breeding stock to increase the genetic pool of the captive population in order to avoid any deleterious inbreeding.
Type of Product Exported: Indicate the type of product exported (e.g. live specimens, skins, hides, other body parts, etc.).
Marking Methods: Describe in detail the marking methods (e.g. Closed rings, transponders) used for the breeding stock and offspring.
Facilities: Describe the facilities to house the current and expected captive stock, including security measures to prevent escapes and/or thefts. Provide detailed information on the number and size of breeding and rearing enclosures, egg incubation capacity, food production or supply, availability of veterinary services and record-keeping.
Conservation: Describe the strategies used or activities conducted by the breeding operation to contribute to the conservation of wild population(s) of the species.
Animal Treatment: Describe how the operation is carried out at all stages to ensure that animals are treated in a humane (non-cruel) manner.
Should the information provided be found to be insufficient we will contact you requesting further details.
Section 4: Conference Resolution 12.10
More detailed information can be found on the following link to the resolution: https://cites.org/eng/common/reg/e_cb.html
Section 5: Contact us.
Should you require any further information or wish to apply to be a CITES Registered Breeder please contact us on wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or contact our helpline on 0300 200 301.