Quote:
Originally Posted by amph55
Thanks I ve got that clearer now.
But is it possible to obtain verification papers if you ve got one ie a region A that was brought over after 1984 and for whatever reason - ignorance mostly - you ve bought or obtained one without papers? If you could do this you could still sell the tortoise ouldn't you - or have I totally missed it!
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The import of wild collected Testudo spp from the Mediterranean after 1984 has been banned. It is only in recent years, that Captive farmed animals bred in Southern Europe have been allowed to be imported with relevant CITES paperwork. Those animals, should always have the correct accompanying licence paperwork. There are no exemptions.
That said, the species Agrionemys (Testudo) horsfieldi, known by the common names of Russian Tortoise, or four toed Tortoise are not covered currently by these same CITES requirements and therefore are imported, usually from countries such as Uzbekistan quite legally and sold in the European Pet trade. Since the mid 1980's this species of Tortoise has been the most common seen in the pet trade.
The captive farmed Testudo hermanni, Testudo g ibera and Testudo graeca have for the most part only featured in the pet trade in the last decade or so, when Farms principally in Slovenia, and more recently Macedonia and Turkey have been exporting their captive bred stock. All of these, definitely require legal CITES documentation prior to shipment.