Game Species Trade

Last Update on 15/06/2021

Trading of Game Species

General Information

In order to practice as a trader of game in the Republic of Cyprus one needs to obtain a trading game licence by the Game and Fauna Service. Nobody can sell or provide at his/her premises any game species not included in Annex III of the relevant Law (The Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Species Law of 2003 (152(Ι)/ 2003).

The Game and Fauna Service grants a licence of game trading only after an Application for Trading Game Licence (Type C), of the relevant Law (152(Ι)/2003) is filled in and examined. This licence is relevant only to a specific number of game species which appears in Annex III , of the relevant Law.

The Application for trading game licence can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or you can contact directly the competent authority (Central offices or any of the District Offices of the Game and Fauna Service):

Game and Fauna Service
1453 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22867786
Fax: +357 22867780
Email: wildlife.thira@cytanet.com.cy
Website: http://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/wildlife/ 

  1. The application must be accompanied by the following documents:

    • original Certificate of Clear Criminal Record as issued by the Cyprus Police;
    • copy of butchery’s registration certificate to the Butcheries’ Registry according to the hygienic production of foods of animal origin and their placement in the market and for other related matters Law as periodically amended or replaced.

Upon approval, the applicant must pay the Annual fee of €340 (as stated in Annex VIII) for the Professional License for Trading of Game Species, to the Game and Fauna Service through the JCCSmart (select ‘Τέλος άδειας εμπορίας θηραμάτων 55(2)’).

The applicant is informed regarding the authorization decision within 3 months from the date that the application form and supporting documents were duly submitted.

The licence is valid for a year.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

The holder of a Trading Game Licence is required to comply with the provisions of “The Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Species Law of 2003 (152(Ι)/ 2003)”, as periodically amended and replaced, and specifically among others to :

  • keep his/her licence for trading game in a prominent position inside the store or the premises, as stated within the license for sale or trade of game;
  • maintain a record/book of true and exact details of all the species of game in accordance with the Type E of Annex VII of the relevant Law;
  • demonstrate the above mentioned record/book, whenever requested for supervision, to the Game and Fauna Service Officers or to members of the Cyprus Police.