Animals and Wildlife Products Policy
Animals and wildlife products policy
You can sell a few types of animals and wildlife products, though there are some things that can't be advertised for on WantAd because of complex government regulations and various laws both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Check out the list of items below to find out what you can and can't advertise for on WantAd. If an item is allowed or restricted, be sure
to follow our guidelines, postage restrictions, and applicable laws. In response to a WantAd advert the seller will also need to
check if selling or posting these items requires a license, permit, or other paperwork.
Animals
It is the responsibilty of the buyer, when advertising for an animal from the 'allowed' list, to ensure that any subsequent purchase of an animal comes from a fully licenced establishment.
Allowed:
- Farm Animals
- Pets
Restricted:
• Advertising for the following animals are permitted, provided that in response to a WantAd advert the seller guarantees
that the animals will be packaged safely and posted via next-day delivery.
• Live bait (minnows, shiners, earth worms, and meal worms)
• Composting worms
• Live insects, crickets used as bait or feeder food for pets
• Shellfish, such as crabs and lobsters, that are live when sold but intended for human consumption
• Aquarium or pond fish (up to 5cm long), snails, tadpoles or similar creatures. Aquarium or pond fish longer than 5cm may be
advertised for with the 'Collection in person' option to the seller
• Hatching eggs for some animals are permitted provided the seller offers domestic-only next-day delivery within the UK and Ireland.
However, hatching eggs from endangered or threatened species, migratory or wild birds, snakes, or turtles aren't allowed.
Not allowed:
• Sales of other animals not advertised for in the exceptions above, including Pomacea snails
Animal parts, pelt, or skin
WantAd prohibits the advertising for endangered or threatened species globally. In addition, 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.
Allowed:
• Animal pelts from non-endangered or threatened species (except cats or dogs) may generally be advertised for on WantAd if
not in breach of local laws.
• Faux or reproductions of animal products can be advertised for. State in the title of your advertisement if you are advertising
for a faux, synthetic or reproduction of an animal product.
Restricted:
• For species not on the endangered or threatened list, the following restrictions apply:
• No animal or part of an animal of a species advertised for in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, or the Schedules to
the Wildlife Acts 1976-2000, may be advertised for on WantAd unless in response to a WantAd advertsiement the seller can produce
documentary evidence confirming that they have not been taken from the wild illegally.
• No animal or part of an animal of a species advertised for on Annex A of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations may be advertised for
on WantAd unless in response to a WantAd advertisement the item is 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.
• Advertisements for any part, pelt or skin from an animal on the CITES Appendix II which cannot offer international delivery.
• Skins, hides and rugs are generally permitted on WantAd, subject to the limitations above.
Not allowed:
• Any part, pelt, or skin from endangered or threatened species or any species advertised for on the CITES Appendix
Examples include (but aren't limited to): elephants, rhinoceros, and tigers.
• Internal animal organs (e.g. bear gall bladders).
• Pelt, fur, or any item made from cats or dogs.
• Any animal bodily fluids or faeces.
Animal traps
Most animal traps are okay to advertise for, although certain types are illegal. Here are some examples:
Allowed:
• Fish traps
• Live traps
• Mouse traps
• Other humane traps
Restricted:
• Glue traps intended for insects are allowed to be advertised for on the site however glue traps intended for animals such as rats
or mice are not permitted.
Not allowed:
• Traps not included in the exceptions above
• Snares
• Gin traps
Ivory or bone
Though there are a few exceptions, most ivory products can't be advertised for on WantAd because of various international trade
restrictions and treaties banning the sale of these items.
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:
• Elephant
• Hippopotamus
• Walrus
• Mammoth
• Narwhal
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 the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Restricted:
• Cultured, man-made, or vegetable ivory as long as the advertisement description specifies what the item is made of
• French Ivory items are allowed on the site, but your advertisement must clearly state that the item is French Ivory and not actual
animal ivory
• Bone from non-ivory-producing animals (such as bison, buffalo, and oxen) as long as the species is clearly stated in the
advertisement description
• Fossilized mammoth teeth or bone as long as they are advertised for in the Fossils category. Fossilized mammoth tusks are still
prohibited.
Not allowed:
• Items made from ivory
• Bone from animals that produce ivory, including elephants, walruses, and whales
• Fossilized ivory or mammoth tusk
Stuffed birds
WantAd urges its sellers and buyers to comply with all laws and regulations. Since the sale of migratory birds is in most cases
prohibited, sellers are restricted in their advertisement of them on WantAd. 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.
Allowed:
• Stuffed domestic farm birds like chickens or ducks
Restricted:
• For species not on the endangered or threatened list, the following restrictions apply:
• No native birds may be advertised for on WantAd unless in response to a WantAd advertisement the seller can produce documentary evidence confirming that they have not been taken from the wild illegally, and this evidence is included in the seller's description. 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 advertised for on WantAd unless the subsequent item to be bought is 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.
Not allowed:
• Any eggs from wild birds cannot be sold, regardless of age or condition.
Turtle or tortoise shell items
Restricted:
• Tortoise shell-coloured items (such as combs, eyewear, handbags, and shoes) made of plastic or another man-made material are
permitted but the advertisement must clearly state the item must not be made of genuine tortoise shell.
Not allowed:
• Items made, in whole or in part, from any part of sea turtles, regardless of age of the item (e.g. guitar picks, jewellery,
jewellery boxes, hair combs)
• Items that appear to be made from genuine sea turtle shell are not permitted
