{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1997-338/article-12",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1997-338/article-12.json",
  "legislation": "eur/1997/338",
  "legislation_title": "Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-1997-338",
  "path": "article/12",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "12",
  "heading": "Places of introduction and export",
  "text": "1. The Secretary of State may designate customs offices for carrying out the checks and formalities for the introduction into and export from Great Britain, in order to assign to them a customs-approved treatment or use, ... of specimens of species covered by this Regulation and shall state which offices are specifically intended to deal with live specimens.\n2. All offices designated in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be provided with sufficient and adequately trained staff. The Secretary of State must ensure that accommodation is provided in accordance with relevant United Kingdom legislation as regards the transport and accommodation of live animals (as that legislation applies in Great Britain) and that, where necessary, adequate steps are taken for live plants.\n3. A list of the customs offices designated in accordance with paragraph 1 must be published in such form and manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.\n4. In exceptional circumstances where temporary authorisation is necessary for urgent conservation or welfare purposes, the management authority may authorise the introduction into Great Britain or the export or re-export therefrom of specimens of species covered by this Regulation other than for primarily commercial purposes, at a customs office other than one designated in accordance with paragraph 1.\n4a. Prior to granting temporary authorisation under paragraph 4, the management authority must be satisfied that—\n(a) an existing customs office designated under paragraph 1 is not available to carry out the necessary checks and formalities for introduction into or export or re-export from Great Britain; and\n(b) the proposed customs office is equipped to carry out the necessary checks and formalities for the introduction into or export or re-export from Great Britain.\n5. The Secretary of State shall ensure that at border crossing-points the public are informed of the implementing provisions of this Regulation.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(a)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(a)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(a)(iii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(b)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(b)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(2) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(b)(iii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Art. 12(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(b)(iv)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Art. 12(4)(4a) substituted for Art. 12(4) (23.6.2026) by The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/627), regs. 1(2), 2(10)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in Art. 12(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Environment and Wildlife (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1395), regs. 1(2), 7(13)(d)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/1997/338/article/12",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:58:53.004690+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}