CITES Explained for UK Parrot Buyers

Short answer: CITES controls international trade in listed wildlife. UK buyers should identify the bird by scientific name, check its current listing, match every document to the individual specimen and confirm the proposed route with APHA before paying or arranging transport.

Before you reserve: a practical document check

Use this as a conversation guide, not as legal advice. Requirements depend on the species, the route and the current UK rules.

1. Record the species, scientific name and the individual identification shown for the bird.
2. Ask for documents relating to that bird, rather than a generic template or a verbal assurance.
3. Check that the ring or microchip reference matches the invoice and provenance records.
4. Confirm which UK authority, permit or border process applies to your destination before travel is arranged.
5. Keep copies of the paperwork and written delivery terms, and do not pay before you understand what is being supplied.

For route-specific questions, review our delivery information and use the contact page to confirm the destination before making arrangements.

What is CITES?

CITES regulates international trade in listed wildlife so that trade does not threaten species' survival. The Appendices describe the international protection level, while UK trade controls use Annex listings. Always check the current entry by scientific name and the individual specimen's source.

• Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction. International commercial trade is tightly restricted and permits are normally required.
• Appendix II: Species that may become threatened without trade controls. Export or re-export documentation normally applies, and destination-country rules can add requirements.
• Appendix III: Species listed at the request of individual countries for specific regulation. Rare in parrot trade.

Post-Brexit CITES requirements for the UK

Movement between the EU and the United Kingdom can involve additional documentation and border steps. The exact requirements depend on the species, its listing, the origin and destination, and whether the movement is commercial. Rules and forms can change, so confirm the current process with the relevant UK and exporting-country authorities before travel is arranged.

• Species and listing: check the current CITES category and whether a permit, certificate or notification applies to the individual movement.
• Origin and destination: confirm which authority issues or receives each document and whether a border inspection or approved route is required.
• Animal-health rules: check the current veterinary and welfare requirements separately from CITES; they are not interchangeable.
• Timing: do not book travel or assume an airport is suitable until the current route and paperwork have been confirmed in writing.

An Article 10 certificate concerns commercial use of an Annex A specimen. It is not itself a permit to import a specimen into Great Britain. GOV.UK says CITES specimens moving into or out of Great Britain may require the corresponding import and export documents, and advises against payment or entering a contract until the correct permit is held.

Questions to ask a seller

Ask which documents relate to the individual bird, who is responsible for each application, which authority should be contacted, and what happens if a permit or route is delayed. Keep copies of the written answers and compare them with the current official guidance. If you are considering a bird from this aviary, you can contact Paraíso de Aves with your destination and species so the route can be discussed before any commitment.

Official sources reviewed

Editorially reviewed 30 September 2026. Use the GOV.UK CITES permit guidance and the current CITES Appendices, then confirm the individual case with the relevant management authorities.

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