Well this is interesting - basically if it comes off the parcel, you're screwed:
CITES application forms and guidance can be found here :
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cites-imports-and-exports
and here :
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cites-imports-and-exports#forms
Please be aware that there is a processing fee :
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cites-imports-and-exports#charges
It is our understanding that the permits should be attached to the outside of any parcels. But this is an area of work covered by the UK Border Force CITES Team based at Heathrow. They can be contacted here
[email protected]
The onus is on the applicant or exporter to identify the species of wood in a specimen.
If a permit is lost in the post between us and the applicant, we will issue a new permit, but only after 2 weeks, as this is the amount of time allowed by Royal Mail for post to be considered lost.
If a permit is lost by a shipper after the export has taken place, the re-issue is problematic, as the Regulations only allow us to issue if a specimen is in the UK. If the specimen arrives in an importing country without valid documentation then it is likely to be seized by the border authorities, and falls under their jurisdiction.
Any importer should check with the CITES MA in their country, on that countries import requirements. All CITES documents should be in place before any arrangement to ship a specimen are made.
I hope this goes some way to explain the procedures. Please be aware though that the issue of a CITES document is not a formality and without sufficient background information we may not be able to issue a document.
Regards