EU Seizure Data for 2021: An Overview of CITES-Listed Wildlife

In 2021, the 24 Member States of the European Union reported a total of 4137 CITES-related seizures. According to the EU-TWIX database, the top commodity groups seized in the EU were medicinals (derived from plants and animals), live birds, reptile bodies, parts, and derivatives, live reptiles and amphibians, live coral and coral rock, elephant ivory and mammal bodies, parts, and derivatives.

The majority of seizures occurred in Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, accounting for 68% of total seizures in 2021. The report also found an increasing proportion of shipments were transported through the postal system, with 31% of total seizures occurring at mail centres compared to 29% in 2020.

In terms of the countries of departure, Thailand, the United States of America, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Switzerland were the top five main countries of departure of illegal wildlife trade entering the EU in 2021.

The report also found potentially emerging trends, such as an increasing number of invertebrate bodies, parts, and derivatives seized in the EU overseas territories, mainly Queen Conch Strombus gigas (App. II), and increasing seizures of sturgeon caviar Acipensiformes spp. (App. I, II).

It is important to note that any change in the number of seizures reported over the years and any patterns in illegal wildlife trade observed from the seizure data may be due to varying levels of enforcement efforts, which could differ over time by the various EU Member States. These do not necessarily indicate shifts in demand or changes in illegal wildlife trade dynamics.

In 2021, the Member States of the European Union reported a total of 4137 CITES-related seizures. According to figures released by the European – Trade in Wildlife Information eXchange (EU-TWIX) database, the top commodity groups seized in the EU were medicinals (derived from plants and animals), live birds, reptile bodies, parts, and derivatives, live reptiles and amphibians, live coral and coral rock, elephant ivory and mammal bodies, parts, and derivatives.

The majority of seizures occurred in Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, accounting for 68% of total seizures in 2021. This marks a 4% increase compared to 2020. An increasing proportion of shipments were transported through the postal system, with 31% of total seizures occurring at mail centres in 2021 compared to 29% in 2020, while seizures in airports dropped from 21% to 15%.

Thailand, the United States of America, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Switzerland were the top five main countries of departure of illegal wildlife trade entering the EU in 2021. The report also revealed potentially emerging trends, including an increasing number of invertebrate bodies, parts, and derivatives seized in the EU overseas territories, mainly Queen Conch Strombus gigas (App. II), and increasing seizures of sturgeon caviar Acipensiformes spp. (App. I, II).

It is important to note that the change in the number of seizures reported and any patterns in illegal wildlife trade observed from the seizure data may be due to varying levels of enforcement efforts, which could differ over time by the various EU Member States. These do not necessarily indicate shifts in demand or changes in illegal wildlife trade dynamics.

In 2021, the 24 Member States of the European Union reported a total of 4137 CITES-related seizures. According to figures released by the European – Trade in Wildlife Information eXchange (EU-TWIX) database, the top commodity groups seized in the EU were medicinals (derived from plants and animals), live birds, reptile bodies, parts, and derivatives, live reptiles and amphibians, live coral and coral rock, elephant ivory and mammal bodies, parts, and derivatives.

The majority of seizures occurred in Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, accounting for 68% of total seizures in 2021. This marks a 4% increase compared to 2020. An increasing proportion of shipments were transported through the postal system, with 31% of total seizures occurring at mail centres compared to 29% in 2020, while seizures in airports dropped from 21% to 15%.

Thailand, the United States of America, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Switzerland were the top five main countries of departure of illegal wildlife trade entering the EU in 2021. The report also uncovered potentially emerging trends, such as an increasing number of invertebrate bodies, parts, and derivatives seized in the EU overseas territories, mainly Queen Conch Strombus gigas (App. II), and increasing seizures of sturgeon caviar Acipensiformes spp. (App. I, II).

Restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including closures of shops and disruptions to air transport, are likely to have contributed to the reduced seizure rates compared to pre

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