On Saturday, May 2, 2026, RVO will be present at De Duystere Markt until 19:00 to answer all your questions.
At De Duystere Markt, you may (buy and) sell specimens and other animal parts, such as skulls and skeletons. In the case of protected animal species (and plant species), specific rules apply. You may not simply transport, possess, buy, sell, or transfer parts or products from these species without the required permits, EU certificates, or transfer documents. Which rules apply depends on the level of protection of the species. For example, a species may be protected under the CITES Convention, the Birds Directive, the Habitats Directive, or may be nationally protected.
CITES
Some animal and plant species are threatened with extinction due to trade in the wild. These species have been given a protected status under the CITES Convention. CITES stands for ‘Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’. Documentation is required for the trade of species protected under the CITES Convention. Depending on the level of protection, this may include EU certificates or transfer statements containing proof of legal origin. Make sure that you provide this information to your customers when selling, or that you receive it when purchasing as a buyer. This helps prevent problems. Detailed information about the Convention, the different protection regimes, and required documentation can be found on the RVO website:
https://www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/cites
Other protected species
In addition to species protected under CITES legislation, there are also animal and plant species that occur in the wild in Europe and are therefore protected, as well as species that are internationally protected because they migrate through multiple countries. It is prohibited, among other things, to possess species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, Annex I or II of the Bern Convention, or Annex I of the Bonn Convention for sale, to transport them for sale, to trade them, to exchange them, or to offer them for sale or exchange. There are some specific exceptions to this prohibition, for example if the animals or plants are demonstrably bred or cultivated, or if it concerns dead animals or plants that were imported into the Netherlands from another country and were demonstrably obtained outside the Netherlands according to the laws and regulations applicable there. You must be able to prove this. Make sure that you provide this information to your customers when selling, or that you receive it when purchasing as a buyer. This helps prevent problems.
All wild bird species occurring in Europe are also protected. They fall under the Birds Directive. Selling, transporting for sale, possessing for sale, and offering for sale dead (taxidermy) birds or parts thereof is prohibited. Here as well, some specific exceptions apply, for example in the case of demonstrably bred birds fitted with a seamless closed leg ring that meets the requirements, in the case of birds demonstrably obtained through wildlife management and damage control, and in the case of dead birds demonstrably obtained outside the Netherlands in accordance with the regulations applicable there. Additional rules apply for possessing and preparing birds originating from the wild, for example regarding the application of identification marks. For more information, please visit:
https://www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/beschermde-dieren-en-planten/vogels-prepareren
Make sure that as a seller you are familiar with the rules and comply with them, and that as a buyer you inform yourself in advance whether legal requirements have been met. In this way, we work together to protect wild animal species.
Important: The above information originates from RVO Netherlands and is based on Dutch legislation. Please note that each country has its own laws and regulations regarding CITES and protected animal and plant species. These regulations may differ from country to country and may also change over time.
It is therefore the responsibility of every seller and buyer to properly inform themselves in advance about the applicable laws and regulations in the country where they operate, where products originate from, and where they are transported or sold. By informing yourself properly and using the correct documentation, you can prevent problems and help contribute to the protection of endangered animal and plant species.