Článek
„Although many tourists think that a small pebble or shell is a harmless souvenir, in many European destinations local regulations prohibit their removal. The most famous example is Sardinia, where it is forbidden to remove sand, pebbles and shells and there are high fines for violations,“ Martina Košlíková from the Association of Travel Agencies of the Czech Republic told Novinka.
Restrictions may also apply to some beaches in Spain, Greece, Croatia or France, especially in national parks and protected areas.
„These are protected plants - dune plants, coastal flowers, selected types of grass. Their removal can be classified as damage to protected species,“ added Košlíková. Depending on the severity of the case, the fine can reach up to 150 thousand euros, or more than 3.6 million crowns.
The rules are strict even in non-European countries. „When returning from third countries, the controls may be even stricter, and I would really appeal to travelers not to take any risks and only buy ordinary souvenirs in shops and keep proof of purchase,“ said Kateřina Chaloupková from the Association of Czech Travel Agencies.
According to her, this may apply not only to natural souvenirs, but also to antiques in European and non-European countries.
According to Košlíková, for example, in Thailand, alcohol bottles containing a stuffed animal, such as a snake, as well as products made from snake skins are risky. It is similar in Indonesia, where you need to be careful with items made from rare woods.
„In North Africa, it's land turtles, lizards, chameleons, and products made from turtle shells,“ Košlíková specified.
Intent increases the punishment
At the international level , the CITES convention , which covers more than forty thousand species, restricts or prohibits the import of specimens of endangered species, their parts and products thereof .
„Risk souvenirs include, for example, corals and products made from them, some types of shells, products made from crocodile or snake skin, or jewelry containing parts of protected species. Tourists often bring them with them thinking that they are ordinary souvenirs, but they may still be subject to CITES rules,“ said Miriam Loužecká, spokeswoman for the Czech Environmental Inspectorate.
„In Southeast Asia, you commonly buy a souvenir in the form of a snake in a bottle, complete with a ginseng root. Both are protected specimens. But you can also buy the same souvenir with an unprotected snake, which can be imported without violating anything. It is a very complex issue,“ added Customs Administration spokesman Igor Lenský.
In the Czech Republic, illegally imported specimens are usually confiscated and a fine of up to 1.5 million crowns can be imposed.
However, illegal import can also be considered criminally. This is especially true if the intent or import for commercial purposes is proven. Therefore, it is recommended to familiarize yourself in advance not only with the CITES list , but also with the legal regulations of the country in question.
