These are laws that do not directly affect the United States, other than those considering exporting wildlife parts to affected countries. Please see the U.S. Federal Laws page for more laws that may affect your country, such as CITES. To report broken links or additional information/laws not covered here, or if you feel there is a specific part of a law that ought to be highlighted in the Notes/Links section that is not already mentioned there, email me at lupa.greenwolf(at)gmail.com. Please include, if possible, links to any relevant laws or regulations, as opposed to anecdotal evidence. I am trying to primarily keep my information to official state and/or legal sources, with a minimum amount of news articles and other secondhand information. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice; when in doubt contact your state fish and game department.
Click here to return to the main Animal Parts Laws Page.
Australia
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Australian Federal Regulations | Various | Australia | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; EPBC section on wildlife remains; species affected by the EPBC; Biosecurity Import Conditions System;
The EPBC concerns protection of wildlife species, to include trade in their remains. BICON regulates the importation of animal remains into Australia |
Australian Capital Territory Regulations | Various | Australian Capital Territory, Australia | Nature Conservation Act 2014, Animal License Holder Responsibilities
The Nature Conservation Act 2014 includes regulations on possessing and taking native species; an Animal License is required to possess, import or export the remains of protected and non-exempt native species. |
New South Wales Regulations | Various | New South Wales, Australia | National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974; Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; taxidermy license information; license to transfer wildlife parts across state lines
Part 7 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 covers the buying, selling and export of live and dead wildlife; the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 identifies threatened species and associated permits. The taxidermy license page includes important information including prohibitions on selling taxidermy mounts, picking up roadkill, and licenses needed to possess the unprocessed parts of native wildlife |
Northern Territory | Various | Northern Territory, Australia | Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act ; information on permits for possession and trade of protected species’ remains
The Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act outlines what species are threatened and how to manage them, to include whether they may be taken out of the territory or not; a permit is needed for possessing and trading the remains of protected species |
Queensland Regulations | Various | Queensland, Australia | Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; Nature Conservation Act 1992; Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006; information on permits to include possessing the remains of protected species
The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 identifies threatened species and associated permits; the nature Conservation Act and Regulation outline which animals are under which level of threat and protection; permits (Collection authority – dead protected wildlife, or Commercial wildlife license) are required to possess/trade in the remains of protected species |
South Australia Regulations | Various | South Australia, Australia | National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 covers regulations concerning hunting, and possession of protected animals, among other necessary information. |
Tasmania Regulations | Various | Tasmania, Australia | Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995; Tasmania Nature Conservation Act 2002; information on taxidermy licenses;
The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 identifies threatened species and associated permits; the Tasmania Nature Conservation Act 2002 lays out methods of conservation of wildlife; a license is required to practice commercial taxidermy |
Victoria Regulations | Various | Victoria, Australia | Wildlife Act 1975; Wildlife Regulations 2013; Commercial Wildlife Licences; taxidermy license application
The Wildlife Act 1975 and Wildlife Regulations 2013 extensively cover the protection and regulation of wildlife and their remains; the Commercial Wildlife Licences page includes information on the processor and taxidermy licenses, both of which govern the possession and sale of wildlife remains |
Western Australia Regulations | Various | Western Australia, Australia | Western Australia Conservation and Land Management Act 1984; Wildlife Conservation Act 1950
The Western Australia Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 prevents taking of wildlife in marine reserves; the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 discusses protected wildlife and their remains |
Brazil
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Brazilian Federal Regulations | Various | Brazil | Environmental Crimes Law of Brazil
The Environmental Crimes Law lays out penalties for the unlawful taking of native wildlife and unlawful transport/sale of their remains |
Canada
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Canadian Federal Regulations | 2002 | Canada | Information on the MBCA; birds protected by the MBCA; list of other provincial laws protecting migratory birds (scroll down a bit); Text of Species At Risk Act; SARA informational website; list of SARA protected species
Similar to the U.S.’s Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the MCBA law protects over 400 native species of migratory bird, their nests and eggs. The Species At Risk Act adds more protection to a variety of endangered wildlife species. Please also check the list of provincial/territorial laws linked above and in the sections below, as some species which are not protected under the MBCA or SARA are protected under these other laws. Do not assume a species not covered by the MBCA or SARA is not covered by a provincial/territorial law until you have researched that law. |
Alberta Regulations | Various | Alberta, Canada | The Wildlife Act of 1997; Alberta Hunting Regulations; information on permits for found dead wildlife (naturally deceased and roadkill) and taxidermy
The Alberta Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a license is required to practice taxidermy commercially; you must also obtain permits for roadkill and any other found bones/antlers/etc. |
British Columbia Regulations | Various | British Columbia, Canada | Wildlife Act; B.C. roadkill regulations; Certificate of Specimen form
The British Columbia Wildlife Act is the biggest compendium of B.C. regulations concerning wildlife and their remains, royalties due on pelts, and other important information. A Certificate of Specimen form is required for collecting roadkill. |
Manitoba Regulations | Various | Manitoba, Canada | Wildlife Act; information on permits as described below
The Manitoba Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a license is required to practice taxidermy, deal in furs, or tan hides commercially; you must also obtain permits for roadkill and to import animal remains. |
New Brunswick Regulations | Various | New Brunswick, Canada | Fish and Wildlife Act; information on taxidermy license
The Fish and Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a license is necessary to practice taxidermy commercially |
Newfoundland and Labrador Regulations | Various | Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | Wildlife Act; list of various wildlife regulations; Fur Buyers, Hide Dealers and Taxidermists Regulations; roadkill permit information; information on other permits including taxidermy
The Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a permit is required to to buy and sell furs, hides of moose and deer, or practice taxidermy; a permit is necessary for collecting roadkill. |
Northwest Territories Regulations | Various | Northwest Territories, Canada | Text of the New Wildlife Act; more information on the Act; very useful document on laws regarding possessing wildlife parts
The Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a permit is required to possess non-game animals for the purposes of taxidermy. |
Nova Scotia Regulations | Various | Nova Scotia, Canada | Wildlife Act
The Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a permit is required to possess non-game animals for the purposes of taxidermy. |
Nunavit Regulations | Various | Nunavit, Canada | Text of the Wildlife Act; an article on new regulations associated with the Act
The Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a permit is required to possess non-game animals for the purposes of taxidermy, to practice taxidermy, or to import/export wildlife. |
Ontario Regulations | Various | Ontario, Canada | Text of the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act; Conservation Act section on possessing and selling/buying wildlife parts; Ontario Endangered Species Act of 2007; Ontario roadkill laws; regulations on keeping and trading pelts;The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act regulates the taking and trade of wildlife parts in Ontario. Several species are mentioned in particular; please read the text of the Act thoroughly. |
Prince Edward Island Regulations | Various | Prince Edward Island, Canada | Wildlife Conservation Act
The Fish and Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species; a license is necessary to practice taxidermy commercially |
Quebec Regulations | Various | Quebec, Canada | An Act Respecting the Conservation and Development of Wildlife
An Act Respecting the Conservation and Development of Wildlife covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains. |
Saskatchewan Regulations | Various | Saskatchewan, Canada | The Wildlife Act of 1998
The Saskatchewan Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species. |
Yukon Regulations | Various | Ontario, Canada | Wildlife Act; wildlife regulations; information on buying, selling and exporting animal products and remains
The Yukon Wildlife Act covers a large portion of regulations concerning wildlife and their remains; please read thoroughly for details and affected species. You need export permits to send any wildlife parts out of the territory; you can keep roadkill and other found remains if you acquire a permit. CITES permits are required to export any remains of CITES-covered species. |
China
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Chinese Federal Regulations | Various | China | Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife; Regulations for the Implementation on the Protection of Terrestrial Wildlife
While there are no easily available lists of federally protected species in English, these laws cover both protected native species as well as those protected by CITES and other international treaties |
European Union Member Countries
Please note individual countries may also have their own separate laws.
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
EC Regulation 709/2010 | 2007 | European Union Member Countries | Text of the Regulation
This enforces the protection of CITES-covered species, to include regulating trade of their remains. |
European Union Ban on Cat and Dog Fur | 2009 | European Union Member Countries | Text of the Regulation
It is illegal to buy, sell or trade the fur of domestic dogs and cats in the European Union; exceptions may be made in cases of educational purposes or taxidermy. |
Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on trade in seal products | 2007 | European Union Member Countries | Text of the Regulation
It is illegal to buy, sell or trade the remains of seals or items made from them. |
India
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act | 1972; 2002 Amendment | India | Text of the Act; text of the 2002 Amendment
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act outlines the protection of wildlife and regulates trade in their remains, to include trophies and other parts |
Malawi
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Malawi National Parks and Wildlife Act | 1992 | Malawi | Text of the Act
The Malawi National Parks and Wildlife Act sets out regulations for hunting wildlife as well as the trade and import/export of their remains |
Mexico
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
General Law of Wildlife, article 60 2 (Mexican Parrot Ban) | 2008 | Mexico | Text of the Law
The Mexican Parrot Ban makes it illegal to take, trade in or export/import all native parrot species of Mexico, including their remains (does not cover captive-bred birds in other countries) |
Nigeria
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Endangered Species Act | 1985 | Nigeria | Text of the Act
This law prohibits the killing and trade in endangered species native or migratory to Nigeria, to include trophies and other remains; the text of the Act includes a list of all protected species near the end. |
South Africa
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Biodiversity Act | 2004 | South Africa | Text of the Act; associated regulations to carry out the terms of the Act; list of species protected by the Act
This law regulates the killing and trade in wildlife native to South Africa, to include trophies and other remains. |
Taiwan
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Taiwan Wildlife Conservation Act | 1989 | Taiwan | Text of the Act
This law regulates the killing and trade in Taiwan’s wildlife, to include trophies and other remains. |
United Kingdom
Name of Law | Year Passed | Country/State/Province/Etc. Affected | Notes and Links |
Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 | 1981 | United Kingdom | Text of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981; licensing information for certain species
This law governs the protection and possession of wildlife, among other natural resources. Wild animals (including birds) and wild animal remains, wild bird nests and eggs may only be possessed, bought or sold if legally acquired; the law further outlines legal methods of acquisition. It is strongly recommended that you read the entire text of the act for details. Licenses are avaialble for a select number of species. |
Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 | 2000 | United Kingdom | Text of the Act
Part III of this Act governs wildlife protection and adds additional resources for enforcement of wildlife laws |
Importation of Taxidermy | various | United Kingdom | Information on importing taxidermy into the U.K.
Includes a duty calculator and other necessary information. |
Fur Farming Prohibition Act 2000 | 2000 | United Kingdom | Text of the Act
This act bans the farming of animals solely for their fur. |
Game Act 1831 | 1831, various amendments after | United Kingdom | Text of the Act
This act bans the out-of-season hunting of certain game birds, and prohibits the sale of the remains of legally hunted species after a certain time period |
The Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulation 1994 | 19944, various amendments after | United Kingdom | Text of the Act; 2007 Amendments; Scotland-specific 2007 Amendments; European protected species; Scotland’s protected species; information on licenses, to include for protected species
This act bans the possession of certain protected species and their remains, though with little provision for enforcement; further amendments give it more teeth, making it a requirement to have a license to possess any of these species taken after 1994 |