Protected live animals and plants, trade

Information about the permit

Trade in certain species are protected by specific Swedish legislation and legislation within the EU. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure the conservation of these species by regulating trade in them.  

If you want to trade in endangered species, you must have a commercial permit in accordance with the Swedish Species Protection Ordinance.  

You need to apply for such a permit if you want to trade in: 

• Live species listed in Annex A or B to the Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, 
• Live species that are marked with N or n in Annex 1 to the Swedish Species Protection Ordinance (2007:845), 
• And live bird species that live in the wild in the EU. Egg containing embryos are also included. 

Requirements

If you run a business where species require a permit may be involved, you are obliged by law to know what rules apply. You must have a current and valid permit for trading in these species, and you must be able to prove that the specimens you trade have a legal origin. 

You must also have an updated list of which speciments of speciesto which your permit applies. This list must also be available if the County Administrative Board visits your premises to carry out an inspection. The list must also be submitted once a year to the County Administrative Board.  

As a rule, you are required to have a physical location, either a store or a warehouse. 

Permit issuer and supervision

It is the County Administrative Board that issues the permit and is the supervisory authority. For questions, contact your County Administrative Board, see the link below. 

Note that in addition you may also need permits from the Animal Welfare Act. 

For certain species, for example keeping venomous snakes, you have to notify the municipality.