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The Regulatory Framework

Several regulations apply to turtles. To facilitate reading, we will focus on three main categories:


The dangerousness status of a species

Some species are considered dangerous and are subject to special provisions, such as compulsory marking. These include species belonging to certain families of turtles where the width of the mouth as an adult is greater than or equal to 4 cm.

Official Text


Protection status of species

Turtles, like other orders of reptiles are the subject of protective measures. Three types of protection can be distinguished:

International

This regards the application of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The species are listed in three Appendices (I, II and III) according to their degree of protection.

European

This is the translation of the CITES into European law. The European Regulation lists species in four Annexes (A, B, C and D) according to their degree of protection.
The advantage of this European regulation is that it is based on the CITES' appendices and makes it unnecessary to read the the CITES also known as the Washington Convention. Therefore a species listed in the European regulation in appendix "II B" means that the species is listed in Appendix II of the CITES and Appendix B of the European regulation.

To find the international and European protection status of a species, click on the link:HERE

National

Certain species of turtles are fully protected within the national territory and in French Guiana by extension.

Decree of November 19, 2007 establishing the lists of protected amphibians and reptiles throughout the territory and the procedures for their protection.

Official Text

Decree of May 15, 1986 establishing on all or part of the national territory measures of protection for reptiles and amphibians represented in the department of French Guiana.

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Possession

The possession of turtles is governed by a set of regulations:

Decree of August 10, 2004 establishing the conditions for the authorization of the possession of certain non-domestic animal species in establishments involved in stock breeding, sales, renting, transit or public display of non-domestic animal species.

Official Text


Decree of August 10, 2004 establishing the general operation rules for accredited breeding facilities for non-domestic animal species.

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Decree of March 25, 2004 establishing the general rules of operation and general characteristics for the facilities of zoological institutions that have a permanent nature, presenting the public with live specimens of local or foreign fauna concerning the sections 21-40 regarding the nomenclature of installations classified for the protection of the environment.

Official Text


Decree of December 12, 2000 establishing the qualifications and conditions of professional experience.

Official Text