Forgot a scorpion in your bag? What Belgium's rules say about bringing exotic animals home
A traveller returning to Belgium from Egypt unwittingly carried home a highly venomous scorpion — "I forgot he was in my bag.
In 30 seconds
- A traveller returning from Egypt reportedly brought a highly venomous scorpion to Belgium in their bag, saying they had forgotten it was there (De Standaard).
- Belgium's national poison centre, the Antigifcentrum, is reachable 24/7 on 070 245 245 for stings and poisonings.
- Importing protected live animals requires CITES permits, handled in Belgium by FOD Volksgezondheid (SPF Santé publique).
- Belgium operates a 'positive list' (positieflijst) naming which species may legally be kept as pets; others need special authorisation.
A traveller returning from Egypt to Belgium unintentionally brought home a highly venomous scorpion in their bag, reported by De Standaard. The incident is a hook for a service-journalism explainer on the rules and safety steps around live and exotic animals entering Belgium: the Antigifcentrum poison centre (070 245 245), CITES import permits handled by FOD Volksgezondheid, the Belgian 'positive list' (positieflijst) for pet species, and the role of the Douane (customs).
Background
Belgium's controls sit inside a decades-old framework. The CITES convention on international trade in endangered species has governed cross-border movement of protected wildlife since it entered into force in 1975, and the EU enforces it through its own wildlife-trade regulations. Belgium added a national layer with its 'positive list' approach, first for mammals and later extended and debated for reptiles and other groups, reflecting a growing European effort to restrict the private exotic-pet trade.
What to do
Save the Antigifcentrum number (070 245 245); never collect or transport wild animals abroad; arrange CITES permits via health.belgium.be before importing; check the positieflijst before keeping an exotic pet; and always declare an accidental stowaway to customs rather than concealing it.
EvidenceDeveloping · 1 primary source + 1 official document · some details remain unconfirmedExplore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 26 Jul 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 26 Jul 2026
- Publication date unavailable
- Retrieved by ODIN:
- 26 Jul 2026
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