European Union - Completely Finished Game Trophies

Last Modified: March 15, 2024

Trophies having been submitted to a complete taxidermy treatment

Completely finished trophies (game trophies stable at room temperature) exported to the EU do not require certification by APHIS under EU regulations.

Fully finished game trophies that are exempt from certification requirements would include tanned hides and varnished bones/horns/hooves/claws/antlers/teeth, as well as game trophies consisting of entire parts that have been mounted, subjected to a preparation such as by plastination, or are derived from animals of the biological class Insecta or Arachnida which have been subject to a treatment such as drying.

Note- CITES certificates may also be required. The exporter should contact Fish and Wildlife for more information on CITES requirements.

Most EU border inspection posts (BIPs) will require commercial documents for fully finished game trophies. APHIS does not endorse any commercial documents. Fully finished game trophies do not have to come from facilities listed in TRACES and may not be exported under APHIS game trophy approvals. Prior to exporting finished game trophies, the exporter should have their importer work with the Ministry of Animal Health in the importing country and the border inspection post (BIP) through which the consignment will enter the EU to determine the acceptability of the form and content of the commercial document prior to shipment. APHIS does not review or endorse the commercial document. No reference to APHIS approval should appear on the commercial document. At this time there is no “standard” format published by the EU for the commercial document. However, EU authorities have indicated that the commercial document must include at least the following specifics:

  1. Description of the material and the animal species of origin;
  2. Category of the material [as defined by Regulation (EC) 1069/2009];
  3. Quantity of the material;
  4. Place of dispatch of the material;
  5. Name and address of the consignor; and
  6. Name and address of the consignee.
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