UK wildlife trade laws under threat
Decreased protection in the UK’s Wildlife Trade Regulations at odds with Chancellor’s drive towards EU harmonisation.
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On 9th February 2026, the UK government announced its intended amendments to its Wildlife Trade Regulations. Born Free was dismayed to see many of the changes, which could significantly and negatively impact the conservation of threatened species being imported into and exported from the UK.
The regulations are designed to implement the UK’s obligations under the UN-administered Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). As a member of the European Union, the UK’s Regulations had historically been in line with other EU countries, but since Brexit the UK is in a position to make its own decisions on how it will implement CITES going forward.
This decision-making didn’t take place in a vacuum. Between September and October last year the government held a consultation, inviting members of the public, industry bodies, non-governmental organisations and wildlife traders to give their feedback on various proposed reforms relating to wildlife trade regulation. Born Free engaged with the consultation alongside some of our wildlife protection partners, although 57% of respondents came from business and industry bodies who are more likely to have a vested interest in deregulation.
While some positive proposals have been brought forward, many changes to the Regulations clearly reflect a push to reduce the restrictions and requirements placed on traders. This is not in the best interest of wildlife conservation, and is especially misguided at a time when the world’s biodiversity is in crisis, with overexploitation of wild species for trade and other purposes identified as a major driver of wildlife decline. Sadly, the government has clearly opted to prioritise reducing the burden on officials responsible for implementing wildlife trade regulations, and on an industry which profits from wildlife exploitation. This comes against the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s recent speech in which he derided environmental regulations as “unnecessary red tape” and “well-intentioned but fundamentally misguided”.
Much will now come down to input from designated experts at Kew Gardens and staff at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the public bodies that advise the government on nature conservation matters. Species deemed to be ‘low risk’ will no longer benefit from the current system of checks and balances; ‘semi-complete’ import and export permits will be accepted for certain species; and key offences will now be subject to civil rather than criminal sanctions, with an increased reliance on statutory guidance and ‘safeguards’.
Strangely, this apparent backtracking from the UK’s shared responsibilities for wildlife protection under CITES seems to be at odds with the clear intention of the Chancellor (as published by the Financial Times on 12th February 2026) to slow down and reassess the UK’s drive for deregulation as she contemplates closer ties and rebuilding harmony with the EU.
Commenting on the government’s announcement, Born Free’s Senior Policy Advisor Gabriel Fava said: “As a key stakeholder, Born Free will remain engaged as the process moves forwards and the government develops legislative and other changes to implement its decisions. We will do all we can to ensure that any loopholes are closed, that emerging issues are addressed, and that species get the legal protection from commercial exploitation that they so desperately need and deserve.”
Read the government’s summary of consultation responses and its plans going forward in full.