The Protected Animal Specimens Code of Practice 2023 has been made under the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017.
Before this code, anyone possessing or wanting to possess a protected animal specimen (including feathers and eggs) required a biodiversity conservation licence as a defence against prosecution under the Biodiversity Conservation Act.
As a result of wildlife licensing reforms, members of the public must register to the code and abide wholly by its terms to gain a defence against prosecution for dealing in certain protected animal specimens in New South Wales.
Unlike a licence, registering to the code is free, has fewer reporting requirements and no application assessment process.
The code applies to:
- a person who has specimens of protected animals in their possession
- a person who intends to collect a carcass of a protected animal that was not harmed (for example, it was found dead) and have that carcass preserved (for example, taxidermied)
- a person who intends to collect naturally shed feathers, skin, non-viable eggs, egg shards, bones, and bone shards of protected animals.
Registrants to the code may deal (possess, buy, sell, and trade) in protected animal specimens of species eligible under the code.
Register to the code
To comply with the code, you must register your personal details and information about specimens in your possession.
A protected animal is any species of Australian native mammal, reptile, bird, or amphibian at any stage of biological development, including death. A specimen is a whole or any part of a species of protected animal. Specimens include carcasses, feathers, eggs, non-viable eggs, egg shards, skeletal materials and preserved specimens or skins.
To comply with the code, you must register your personal details and information about specimens in your possession with the department.
Registration helps improve our capacity as a regulator by providing us with the information we need to effectively manage biodiversity conservation risks, deliver helpful educational materials, and notify people in the event of any changes.
Registration to the code is a once off activity unless your contact information changes, you acquire, collect, inherit, or buy new specimens, or you sell, give away or trade your specimens, then additional reporting will be required.
A person can register under the code if they are over the age of 16 and have not contravened the Biodiversity Conservation Act, Biodiversity Conservation Regulation or another statutory instrument under the Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Businesses, corporations, and persons under the age of 16 are not eligible. A person who has contravened the Biodiversity Conservation Act, Biodiversity Conservation Regulation or another statutory instrument under the Biodiversity Conservation Act is also not eligible.
The code does not apply to certain activities and specimens. This includes:
- individuals processing carcasses for preservation, such as by taxidermy, bone articulation, or wet preservation
- specimens of threatened species, birds of prey, marine mammals, or sea turtles
- unpreserved specimens such as blood, tissue, and organs of animals
- importing or exporting preserved specimens to or from New South Wales
- carcasses of kangaroos harmed for commercial purposes
- carcasses of animals harmed for non-commercial purposes
- ambergris (waste product from whales)
- preserving specimens through cryopreservation or dealing in specimens that have been subject to a cryopreservation process.
Visit our wildlife licence page to learn more about applying for a licence to process protected animal species for preservation (for example, taxidermy) or hold specimens of threatened specimens, marine mammals, birds of prey, or sea turtles.
There is an enforceable limit of 5 transactions that you can perform in a 12-month period. This period starts from the date of registration under the code (reporting date).
One transaction means either:
- the buying or selling of one individual specimen between one person and another person on a single date
- the buying or selling of multiple specimens derived from the same individual animal between one person and another person on a single date.
If you buy and sell specimens, you must update all transactions once every 12 months. This update must be done by your reporting date (12-month anniversary of your registration to the code).
The opportunity to buy and sell protected animal specimens was previously not permitted under a biodiversity conservation licence. Placing a limit on transactions authorised under the code will ensure the department monitors this newly permitted activity in consideration of potential commercial and conservation risks.
If your specimen information remains the same, then you are not required to report to the department, that is, you have only possessed the same specimen for that 12-month period.
If your specimen information changes, you must report those changes to the department by your reporting date every year. Your reporting date is the date you registered to the code. For example, if you register your details on 25 June 2023, you must update the species information for the specimens you acquire, collect, buy, sell, trade, exchange, give away, or gift by 25 June every year.
Update your personal details
If your details have changed, you must update that information within 28 days of the change.
Update your specimen information
If specimens in your possession have changed, you must update those changes by your reporting date (12-month anniversary of your registration to the code) each year.
Declare specimens you have bought and sold
There is an enforceable limit of 5 transactions that you can perform in a 12-month period.
If you buy and sell protected animal specimens, you must report all transactions by your reporting date (12-month anniversary of your registration to the code) each year.