To help conserve native and endangered species, the sale of animals and their parts is subject to a range of UK and Irish legislation. The following guidelines apply to the listing of animal and wildlife items on eBay.co.uk and eBay.ie to help members abide by the law and protect wildlife. If we become aware of any listing that breaks this policy, we will end the listing and may, where appropriate, forward it to the relevant law enforcement agency for action.
Live animals or pets other than the exceptions noted here, may not be listed on eBay. The sales of the following items are permitted, provided that the seller guarantees in the listing that the animals will be packaged safely and posted via next day delivery.
Aquarium or pond fish, snails or similar creatures.
Lobsters, crabs, shellfish and other similar creatures that are live when sold but intended for human consumption.
Live insects, crickets and worms used as bait or feeder food for pets.
In addition, eBay permits the sale of hatching eggs provided the seller offers domestic-only shipping within the UK.
All native UK birds, along with their nests and eggs, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Similar provisions are to be found in Irish law under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 - 2000. Many rare native and non-native bird species are also protected under the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.
No native birds may be listed on eBay unless members can produce documentary evidence confirming that they have not been taken from the wild illegally, and this evidence is included in the listing. A list of native bird species can be found on the British Ornithologists' Union's website.
No bird species listed on Annex A of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations may be listed on eBay unless accompanied by an Article 10 certificate issued by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), or the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. More information on the species listed in the Annexes can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/CITES/guidance/index.htm.
Many native animal species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the UK and the Wildlife Acts 1976-2000 in Ireland. Some rare native and many non-native species are protected under the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.
No animal or part of an animal of a species listed in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, or the Schedules to the Wildlife Acts 1976-2000, may be listed on eBay unless the seller can produce documentary evidence confirming that they have not been taken from the wild illegally. A list of species on Schedule 5 can be found at: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1815.
No animal or part of an animal of a species listed on Annex A of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations may be sold on eBay unless accompanied by an Article 10 certificate as issued by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), or the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. More information on the species listed in the Annexes can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/CITES/guidance/index.htm
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Internal animal organs (e.g. bear gall bladders) may not be listed on eBay.
Pelts and Fur
eBay does not permit the sale of pelts or items which include the fur from endangered species, cats or dogs. Animal pelts from non-endangered species (except cats or dogs) may generally be listed on eBay, if not in breach of the seller's specific state laws.
Generally, such items may be listed on eBay, subject to the above limitations.
Because many of the species from which ivory is harvested are currently endangered or protected, the sale of ivory is generally prohibited on all EU sites with two exceptions:
A pre-1900 piano with ivory keys
Pre-1900 furniture and other wooden items which include ivory inlays
These listings must include documentary proof from an official antiques expert that the item was created before 1900.
Please note that all types of ivory are affected, including prehistoric ivory as well as ivory products that have been obtained legally through appropriate channels. Some examples include:
Several international organisations also provide information about the trade of ivory products that may be helpful, such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and their About Me page, and the World Wildlife Fund(WWF).
eBay does not permit the sale of any item made, in whole or in part, from any part of sea turtles. This includes items such as guitar picks, jewellery, jewellery boxes, hair combs and other products made from the shell of sea turtles, most commonly the Hawksbill turtle. Products are often referred to as being made from "tortoise shell". Items that appear to be made from genuine sea turtle shell are not permitted.
eBay acknowledges that the common definition of "tortoise shell" to describe items that have a particular design resembling a tortoise shell, and many "tortoise shell" products, are actually made out of plastic, glass or a composite material. These items are permitted on eBay. To avoid confusion, listings of such "faux" tortoise shell items should clearly state that the item is not made of "genuine" tortoise shell.
In general, eBay permits the sale of animal traps only when marketed as a collectable item.
Export restrictions apply to items made from, or containing, the parts of species listed on Annex A or B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations. Any such item which is sent to a buyer outside the EU must be accompanied by an export permit as issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), or the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Applications for Article 10 certificates should be submitted to Defra, or the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Export permits can also be obtained from Defra. Information about licensing and application forms for Article 10 certificates and export permits can be found at: http://www.ukcites.gov.uk/license/default.htm. Please state in your item listing whether you are in possession of an Article 10 certificate if it is required.
For information on Ireland's licensing and permit rules, visit www.environ.ie.
Community members can report prohibited, questionable and infringing items to eBay.
