How to Verify if an Egyptian Exporter Has Valid CITES and Farm Licenses – Complete Buyer’s Guide?

When importing exotic reptiles, scorpions, insects, or venom from Egypt, the most important step is confirming that the exporter is legal and fully licensed. Europe has strict wildlife import regulations, and working with an unlicensed seller can lead to:

Shipment seizure

Fines

Customs delays

Blacklisting

Legal penalties

This guide explains exactly how to verify whether an Egyptian exporter truly holds valid CITES permits and farm licenses, so European importers can buy safely and avoid all risks

✅ 1. Ask for a Sample of Their CITES Export Permit

A real Egyptian exporter can always send you:

A photo of a previously issued CITES permit

A sample permit from a past shipment

A blank template issued to their company

A valid CITES permit must include:

Official EEAA stamp

Exporter company name

Scientific species names

Quantity

Source code (C, F, CB)

Signature of the EEAA officer

QR Code or serial number

Fake exporters cannot provide these documents.

✅ 2. Request the Farm License (If They Sell Reptiles or Scorpions)

Egyptian law requires any exporter dealing with:

Scorpions

Snakes

Monitors

Lizards

Tortoises

Venom extraction

to have a farm license approved by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA).

The license must contain:

Farm name

License number

Breeding facility location

Species approved for breeding

Validity date

Official governorate stamp

A real exporter will share a clear copy without hesitation.

✅ 3. Check Their CITES Registration Number

All Egyptian CITES exporters have:

A registration code

A farm ID

A permit serial number

Ask for this code and verify that:

It matches the company name

It appears on all CITES permits

It is active (not expired)

Fake exporters usually avoid giving registration details.

✅ 4. Ask for Photos and Videos from Their Farm

A legal exporter can easily provide:

Video of breeding room

Containers

Venom extraction lab (if applicable)

Scorpion or reptile enclosures

Staff handling animals

Real farms show:

Clean environment

Proper labeling

Controlled temperature

Professional breeding setup

If the seller refuses videos → red flag.

✅ 5. Check If the Exporter Has Previous Shipments

A real exporter has shipped to:

Germany

Netherlands

Italy

France

UK

Belgium

Ask for:

Airway bills (AWB)

Past invoices

Screenshots of shipments

Testimonials

Even blurred copies of AWB are enough to verify legitimacy

✅ 6. Verify the Company’s Commercial Registration

Ask for:

Commercial registration certificate

Tax ID number

These are basic documents for any legal exporter.

European importers should always check that:

Company name on the invoice matches registration

Exporter address is correct

License is not expired

✅ 7. Check Their Website and Social Media

A serious exporter usually has:

Professional website

Real photos

Active social media

Clear contact information

Signs of a fake exporter:

No address

Only WhatsApp contact

Stolen photos from Google

No company details

✅ 8. Compare Their Prices With the Market

If prices are extremely cheap (too good to be true), this may mean:

Illegal wild-caught animals

No CITES documents

Smuggling attempts

Legal exporters have stable and reasonable prices because:

They pay for permits

They maintain licensed farms

They follow IATA shipping rules

❌ 9. Red Flags That Mean “Avoid This Exporter”

Keep away from exporters who:

Refuse to show CITES samples

Offer species that are illegal in Egypt

Cannot show farm photos

Do not provide invoices

Only want full payment before documents

Use different names on documents

Have no official company registration

If even one red flag appears → avoid.

⭐ Summary: How to Verify a Real Egyptian Exporter

Verification Step What to Check

CITES Sample Permit Must have stamp, QR code, signature

Farm License Valid, clear, includes species

Registration Number Matches exporter name

Farm Photos/Videos Real, not downloaded

Past Shipments AWB, export history

Company Papers Commercial registration + Tax ID

Website + Social Media Active and professional

Pricing Normal market price

If an exporter passes all these checks → 100% legal and safe.

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