Tortoise Law

The following will give you a better understanding of the current law on tortoise sales and keeping as pets.

All tortoise species are listed on CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and are sub-divided into Annexes. Species listed in Annex B require no sales certificate (referred to as a License) to purchase or to sell. All species listed in Annex A require a sales certificate called a “Transaction Article 10 Certificate”.

Transaction Article 10 Certificates

Transaction Article 10 Certificates are issued to specimens that are too small to be microchipped (under 60 mm plastron length) and therefore cannot be identified as an individual.

You can contact DEFRA at;

General Enquiries Tel: 0117 372 8168 – Fax: 0117 372 8206 – E-mail: wildlife.enforce@defra.gsi.gov.uk

The list below shows the most common species being offered for sale in the U.K. and other E.U. member states.

Hermann tortoise	Testudo hermanni	Annex A	Certificate required
Spur-thighed tortoise	Testudo graeca	Annex A	Certificate required
Marginated tortoise	Testudo marginata	Annex A	Certificate required
Horsfield tortoise	Testudo horsfieldi	Annex B	Not required
Leopard tortoise	Geochelone pardalis	Annex B	Not required
Sulcata tortoise	Geochelone sulcata	Annex B	Not required
Indian star tortoise	Geochelone elegans	Annex A	Certificate required
Red footed tortoise	Geochelone carbonaria	Annex B	Not required