diff --git a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/api.py b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/api.py
index c90a78f4..6afa9096 100644
--- a/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/api.py
+++ b/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/api.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def import_tags(
     in the file (regardless of action), then `tag_2` and `tag_3` will be deleted
     if `replace=True`
     """
-    _import_export_validations(taxonomy)
+    _import_validations(taxonomy)
 
     # Checks that exists only one task import in progress at a time per taxonomy
     if not _check_unique_import_task(taxonomy):
@@ -146,7 +146,6 @@ def export_tags(taxonomy: Taxonomy, output_format: ParserFormat) -> str:
     """
     Returns a string with all tag data of the given taxonomy
     """
-    _import_export_validations(taxonomy)
     parser = get_parser(output_format)
     return parser.export(taxonomy)
 
@@ -178,20 +177,21 @@ def _get_last_import_task(taxonomy: Taxonomy) -> TagImportTask | None:
     )
 
 
-def _import_export_validations(taxonomy: Taxonomy):
+def _import_validations(taxonomy: Taxonomy):
     """
-    Validates if the taxonomy is allowed to import or export tags
+    Validates if the taxonomy is allowed to import tags
     """
     taxonomy = taxonomy.cast()
     if taxonomy.allow_free_text:
-        raise NotImplementedError(
+        raise ValueError(
             _(
-                "Import/export for free-form taxonomies will be implemented in the future."
-            )
+                "Invalid taxonomy ({id}): You cannot import a free-form taxonomy."
+            ).format(id=taxonomy.id)
         )
+
     if taxonomy.system_defined:
         raise ValueError(
             _(
-                "Invalid taxonomy ({id}): You cannot import/export a system-defined taxonomy."
+                "Invalid taxonomy ({id}): You cannot import a system-defined taxonomy."
             ).format(id=taxonomy.id)
         )
diff --git a/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/test_api.py b/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/test_api.py
index 3fa1d46c..9721fec4 100644
--- a/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/openedx_tagging/core/tagging/import_export/test_api.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_invalid_import_tags(self) -> None:
 
     def test_import_export_validations(self) -> None:
         # Check that import is invalid with open taxonomy
-        with self.assertRaises(NotImplementedError):
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             import_export_api.import_tags(
                 self.open_taxonomy,
                 self.file,
@@ -174,21 +174,6 @@ def test_start_task_after_success(self) -> None:
             self.parser_format,
         )
 
-    def test_export_validations(self) -> None:
-        # Check that import is invalid with open taxonomy
-        with self.assertRaises(NotImplementedError):
-            import_export_api.export_tags(
-                self.open_taxonomy,
-                self.parser_format,
-            )
-
-        # Check that import is invalid with system taxonomy
-        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-            import_export_api.export_tags(
-                self.system_taxonomy,
-                self.parser_format,
-            )
-
     def test_import_with_export_output(self) -> None:
         for parser_format in ParserFormat:
             output = import_export_api.export_tags(