laws restricting sale of tortoises

[amph55]

I realize this doesn't apply to all tortoise types, but the law laid down by defra :e mail (wildlife.enforce@defra.gsi.gov.uk) are quite strict.
Apparantly it is against the law to sell or purchase certain regional tortoises eg graecia which is a region A as specified, without an id certificate (issued by the EU) stating the owners details and tortoises identity plus being pinned and chipped.
So I'm wondering what happens to all those tortoises still alive and healthy in this country which may have been imported illegally from the wild some 30 years ago, but since these types can live to 100 or more and indeed outlive their owners, how can these be passed on to responsible would be owners???