Ilaria Di Silvestre
Closing the Loopholes in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations
Closing the Loopholes in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations
Ilaria Di Silvestre | October 15, 2025
On 14 October 2025, Members of the European Parliament, experts, and NGO representatives gathered for the first event of the newly re-formed MEPs for Wildlife group. The event “Stolen Wildlife: Closing the Loopholes in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations” was hosted by César Luena (S&D), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), and Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew). It was co-organised by IFAW, Pro Wildlife, Humane World for Animals, Four Paws, and WCS, and focused on how the EU can strengthen its response to the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade.
MEPs and experts discuss how to tackle gaps in EU wildlife trade rules
Participants highlighted that the EU remains one of the world’s largest markets and transit hubs for wildlife and wildlife products. Despite progress under the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, significant legal loopholes persist: many species protected in their countries of origin are not covered by EU law or the CITES treaty. Once trafficked out of their home range, these animals can enter legal or illegal trade channels within the EU with little recourse. This continues to fuel biodiversity loss and animal suffering.
Black-cheek lizard (Calotes nigrilabris), in Sri Lanka
Launch of the Stolen Wildlife report
The event also presented the new Stolen Wildlife report published by IFAW, Pro Wildlife, Humane World for Animals, Four Paws, and WCS. The report highlights how traffickers exploit current gaps in EU legislation to launder illegally sourced animals, particularly those destined for the exotic pet trade, and calls for decisive EU action to close these loopholes.
EU feasibility study confirms the legal gap
The European Commission’s feasibility study on the criminalisation of the trade in illegally sourced wildlife, which was also presented during the event, confirmed the existence of legal gaps that allow species caught or taken illegally in third countries to enter and circulate in the EU market. The study also demonstrated that viable legislative solutions exist and are within reach.
Expert panels discuss data collection and legislative solutions
Two expert panels explored these solutions in greater detail. The first one focused on improving data collection by expanding the EU’s TRACES system to include species-specific information on live animal imports, a step that could greatly enhance transparency and enforcement capacity. The second panel examined legislative options to ensure that the import, transhipment, purchase, and sale of wildlife taken illegally in its country of origin become criminal offences throughout the EU.
A call for stronger EU action against wildlife trafficking
Speakers agreed that closing the loopholes in the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations is not only a conservation priority but also a matter of governance and global leadership. As several participants underlined, even the most advanced database cannot stop traffickers without robust legislation. Only by criminalising wildlife trafficking can authorities ensure access to investigative tools and the enforcement of deterrent penalties.
The event concluded with a call for the European Commission and European Parliament to make tackling wildlife trafficking a political priority during this term and to begin implementing the identified solutions without delay.
Related content
Our work can’t get done without you. Please give what you can to help animals thrive.