The importer or his authorised representative shall, where appropriate, complete boxes 1 to 13 of the original import notification (form 1) and the ‘copy for the importer’ (form 2) and, without prejudice to Article 25, surrender them together with any documentation from the country of export or re-export to the border customs office at the point of introduction into the Community designated in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 338/97.

In the case of import notifications that relate to specimens of species listed in Annex C to Regulation (EC) No 338/97, customs offices may, where necessary, retain such specimens pending verification of the validity of the accompanying documents referred to in Article 4(3)(a) and (b) of that Regulation.