It is recommended that anybody considering bringing into Malta (including via the purchase of items over the internet) any products derived from plants or animals from outside the European Union, and any live animals or carcasses (e.g. hunted animals/birds) both from within and from outside the European Union, or is considering acquiring any live or dead animal even from Malta itself, contacts the Environmental Permitting Unit  in advance to confirm whether any CITES requirements need to be complied with.  It is to be pointed out that if an item arrives at the border control without any necessary CITES certificates, it would be seized and action taken against the importer.

In Malta, ERA, which is the CITES Management Authority of Malta, processes more than 75 CITES compliance certifications or clearances per week for transactions covering specimens/items imported from or exported/re-exported out of the European Union.  Various traded items all require CITES compliance clearance prior to being imported (or exported).  Pet shop fish and coral, fresh-frozen fish for human consumption, cosmetics, medicinals​, clothes, timber products, etc. constitute such goods.

CITES compliance clearances

In order for the ERA to issue a compliance clearance on any item for it to be released on its importation, information is required on the materials being imported/exported, and/or ingredients contained in products.   A declaration from the supplier is to clearly state whether any plant or animal products, derivatives, or parts thereof, are included in the items being imported/exported. The declaration should clearly refer to the invoice in question or particular items in the invoice, as necessary. The declaration should cover all items on the invoice as the CITES office will release all the invoice and not specific items on the invoice. The above information is necessary for items or products being imported from a non-EU country, even if the products were originally produced within an EU country.

In the case of exports, the information above is necessary for items or products being exported to a non-EU country, even if the items or products originally reached Malta from an EU country.

For further information contact the ERA on https://era.org.mt/contact/