The Service announces a 60-day public comment period for the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20). Recommendations for amendments to CITES Appendices, as well as recommendations for resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP20 will be accepted through May 21, 2024.
View the full Federal Register notice for more information and instructions on how to submit comments. Search docket number FWS‒HQ‒IA‒2024‒0033.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs program coordinates domestic and international efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the world’s diverse wildlife and their habitats with a focus on foreign and domestic species of international concern. We envision a world where all people value nature and conserve living resources for the well-being of life on Earth.
Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the International Affairs program carries out the provisions of CITES through its Division of Management Authority and Division of Scientific Authority.
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International wildlife trade is a billion-dollar industry involving hundreds of millions of live plants and animals, as well as their products. CITES provides a framework for cooperation and collaboration by its Parties to regulate and sustain trade while ensuring it does not threaten species' survival in the wild.
A meeting of the Conference of the Parties takes place approximately every three years to discuss and negotiate changes to CITES Appendices and the implementation and enforcement of the treaty. The 20th meeting of the CoP (CoP20) is scheduled for late 2025.
CoP20: Planning Underway
How CITES Protects Species
Sustainable, legal use of wild animals and plants is better for both domestic and global economies than unchecked illegal trade, which can drive species and associated markets to extinction. CITES establishes agreed upon rules the Parties use to reciprocally protect the trade of one another's species, and combat wildlife trafficking. Species are listed on Appendices that determine the level of trade that can be supported. Advisory committees use their expertise and specialized knowledge to review the status of species and provide guidance on CITES implementation.
More Than a List
CITES works through a system of permits . A permit is required to import or export a CITES-listed species, whether a live specimen, part, product, or pet. Moving a listed species across international borders is considered trade, even if it’s for personal use.
A permit may be issued when the Service determines that a species was acquired legally, and that its trade is not detrimental to its survival in the wild.
Permits for some species that are exported in large quantities are issued in partnership with states and Tribes through the CITES Export Program.
The Future of Conservation
As part of the United States’ effort to combat wildlife trafficking, o ur International Affairs program supports professionals working to advance and implement CITES policies in their countries through the CITES Master's Course .
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The Ornithological Council
Providing scientific information about birds, cites permits and certificates of scientific exchange.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) protects animal and plant species to ensure that commercial trade does not threaten their survival in the wild. It regulates the trade of listed species through the use of permits. The Division of Management Authority processes applications for CITES permits for the United States. Under CITES, a species is listed at one of three levels of protection, which have different permit requirements. For more information about the permits required to import, export, or re-export species listed under CITES, see our Import Guide .
If the specimen is a loan, donation, or exchange between CITES-registered institutions then a Certificate of Scientific Exchange (COSE) can be used. Both the sending and receiving institutions must be CITES-registered . This is the most common means of transferring materials among museums.
To become a CITES-registered institution, apply for a Certification of Scientific Exchange using Form 3-200-3 9 . If the USFWS Division of Management Authority (DMA) determines that your institution is eligible to become a CITES-registered institution, the DMA will forward the information to the CITES Secretariat for inclusion on the registration list. There is no fee for state or municipal facilities; all others pay $100. Once issued, the COSE will allow you to receive and send CITES materials that have been accessioned by your museum to any other CITES-registered institution, without an individual permit. The COSE is valid for four years.
If a specimen is also ESA-listed, the COSE cannot be used. You will need a CITES/ESA permit and an ESA permit. The same is true for specimens requiring MBTA permits.
Read the CITES regulations here .
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- Environment
- Wildlife, animals, biodiversity and ecosystems
- Biodiversity and ecosystems
Import or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit
Check if your import, export or re-export needs a permit or certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
There are criminal offences associated with moving or trading CITES -controlled specimens if you do not have a valid permit or certificate. The maximum penalty is a 7 year prison sentence and an unlimited fine.
You must apply for a permit or certificate to import, export or re-export any living or dead plant or animal (or any of its parts) that is listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ).
This includes if you move CITES specimens between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the EU, and Great Britain and Northern Ireland ( NI ).
Use Species+ to find out if your specimen comes from a species on the CITES list. Species are listed according to how endangered they are in the wild. Annex A is the most strictly controlled list of species and annex D the least.
You should also check if your specimen is subject to an import suspension .
You must apply for a permit to import, export or re-export annex A, B or C specimens.
Unless you have the correct CITES documentation, you should not:
- ship or travel with specimens
- make payments for their purchase
- enter into contracts over specimens
You’ll need to:
- use a designated point of entry or exit
- show your CITES documents to Border Force at the border
- check other custom controls required by HMRC
How to apply
Find out how to apply for CITES permits and certificates , including any fees you’ll need to pay.
Commercial use
If you plan to use a specimen for commercial purposes, you must check if you also need an Article 10 certificate for commercial purposes . You may be able to get an exemption for single commercial use.
Musical instruments, museums, art exhibitions and touring displays
In some cases, you may need to move CITES specimens across international borders several times. For example, endangered species or specimens that are part of a:
- touring orchestra
- museum exhibit
- art exhibition
- touring display or circus
If you’re travelling with your instrument as part of a touring orchestra you must apply for a CITES permit for each instrument containing CITES listed specimens. You do not have to pay for the permit.
Contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species ( CITES ) if you’re not sure which type of permit or certificate you need.
Personal and household effects
In some specific circumstances, you do not need CITES documentation to move personal and household effects that contain a CITES specimen.
You do not need a CITES permit for the following items if they are carried in your personal luggage and intended for personal use (allowance is per person):
- 125 grams of caviar (Acipenseiformes spp), in containers that are individually marked in accordance with Article 66(6)
- 3 rainsticks of Cactaceae spp
- 4 worked items containing Crocodyllia spp (excluding meat and hunting trophies)
- 3 shells of Queen conch (Strombus gigas)
- 4 dead specimens of seahorse (Hippocampus spp)
- 3 specimens of giant clam (Tridacnidae spp) not more than 3kg in total, where a specimen can be one intact shell or 2 matching halves
- up to 1 kg woodchips, 24 ml oil, and two sets of beads or prayer beads (or two necklaces or bracelets) of agarwood (Aquilaria and Gyrinops species)
If you think a personal or household item that you plan to import, export or re-export includes a CITES specimen, contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species ( CITES ) .
Extra rules about identifying controlled species
CITES rules still apply to items if the:
- packaging lists a controlled item but the packet does not contain a specimen or derivative - such as a traditional Asian medicine listing tiger bone
- actual species is not known and the specimen can only be identified to a higher group that includes controlled species - such as Crocodylia (for all crocodiles, alligators and gharials) and Orchidaceae (for all orchids)
Where the specimen cannot be identified as a specific species in a taxonomic group, APHA treats it as the most protected species of that group.
CITES rules do not apply to naturally excreted urine, faeces and ambergris because these are waste products.
If you’re not sure whether CITES rules apply to your item, contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species ( CITES ) .
Customs requirements for CITES items
All CITES import, export and re-export permits or certificates must be endorsed by customs authorities when they enter or leave Great Britain at the border.
UK Border Force ( UKBF ) will check and endorse the documents. UKBF will keep the documents and send copies to APHA . Other copies are used to prove legal import or export of the specimen.
You must present these documents to UKBF at the:
- first point of entry into Great Britain - before the CITES goods are removed to a customs temporary storage facility
- last point of exit from Great Britain
For imports, you must:
- get the appropriate documents to submit to UKBF
- attach CITES documents travelling with the goods to the outside of the parcel in a sealed clear-plastic folder
Read the guide for trading or moving CITES -listed specimens through UK ports and airports .
If you do not identify an import as part of CITES rules, UK Border Force can seize the goods and take criminal action against you and anyone else involved.
Export by post
Before you post your item to a destination outside the UK, you must present your CITES permit and specimen to UKBF at a CITES designated point of entry and exit (PoE) to be endorsed. This includes movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
All 3 copies of the CITES permit need to be securely attached to the outside of the parcel in a clear plastic folder.
The white and yellow copy of the permit will be returned to you. You will need to put the white copy in the parcel before posting and keep the yellow copy as your proof the permits were presented for endorsement.
You must complete a customs declaration form CN22 or CN23. This depends on the value of the item. You can get these forms from any Post Office. The customs declaration must include:
- a description of the goods
- whether they’re gifts or commercial items
You also need a ‘C&E 83A label: exported by post under customs and excise control’. You can get one by calling HMRC on 0300 200 3700.
For advice on movements between Northern Ireland and Great Britain contact: [email protected]
For more ways to contact HMRC, check its Imports and exports: general enquiries page.
Post moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
For CITES specimens moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast International airport.
Import by post
If you’re importing CITES specimens by post, you must make sure that the sender fills in and attaches to the items:
- customs declaration form CN22 or CN23 - you can get these from any post office
- any CITES documents required
Although the sender is responsible for making a complete and accurate declaration, you should make sure it’s done correctly.
UKBF checks CITES imports before they can enter the UK. You will be asked to provide your CITES UK import permit before UKBF releases the specimen.
Post moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain
For CITES specimens moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast seaport.
Retrospective permits
You must have the relevant permit before you import, export or re-export a CITES specimen.
If your CITES specimens have entered or left Great Britain or Northern Ireland without the relevant permits, you may need to apply for a retrospective permit. These are only granted in a very limited number of specific and exceptional circumstances.
Before you apply for a retrospective permit, you must contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species ( CITES ) .
Returned goods
If your CITES specimen has been exported from Great Britain but is rejected by the importing country, contact UK Border Force at [email protected] to let them know it’s been rejected.
You’ll also need to get CITES documents to re-import the items into Great Britain. Contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species ( CITES ) for more details.
Contact APHA
If you’re not sure about your application or do not know what fee to pay, contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species ( CITES ) .
Information has been added about the items in your personal luggage that do not need a CITES permit.
Information has been added about the items in your personal luggage that do not need a CITES permit, and information about eels has been removed.
We have added a link to the list of the UK’s formal import suspensions. These are held alongside banned or restricted specimens listed in Species+. Anyone who wants to import CITES specimens should check the UK’s import suspensions in addition to Species+ or contact APHA if you are unsure.
Updated the 'Customs requirements for CITES items' section to make it clear that you need to present documents to UK Border Force at the first point of entry into, and the last point of exit from, Great Britain.
Updated the export by post and import by post sections. When moving CITES specimens from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI), your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast International airport. When moving CITES specimens from NI to GB your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast seaport.
Updated eels section. Contact APHA for advice if you plan to export or import European eels.
We updated the guidance to make it clearer that you need a CITES permit when you move CITES specimens between Great Britain and the EU, and between GB and Northern Ireland.
Added guidance about customs requirements and travelling displays. Updated information about penalties if you do not have the correct documents.
When you need a certificate instead of a permit section updated
CITES content has been restructured.
Updated the information in the "UK ivory sales ban" section.
Guidance on CITES-designated points of entry or exit published in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
CITES news updated.
News section - High levels of CITES applications
Method of payment section updated
Added news - UK ivory sales ban
News added - reminder to bird breeders
CITES news update - CITES Open Day
Amended section on legislation due to updated regulations in relation to the imports and introduction of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora into the EU
Added news - new EU guidance on intra-EU trade/re-export of rhino horn
Added news - new EU guidance and high levels of CITES applications
Added news: New CITES controls - Rosewood and Palisander guidance
Added news - African Grey Parrots
Amended legislation for the complete list of species controlled by CITES under the EU regulations.
New CITES controls on animal and plant species news added
Added news - The Listing of Dalbergia species on CITES
Added news - CITES team change of address
Added news - species listing decisions at CITES Conference of Parties (CoP17)
News added - Defra announcement about UK ban on modern day ivory sales
Published new species requiring licences (CITES certificates and permits) news
Amended current restrictions on importing live birds listed on CITES news item.
News added - CITES documents for hybrid specimens
AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
First published.
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What is a CITES certificate?
A CITES certificate is required when importing items protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments. The purpose is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
If a shipper intends to ship goods made from specimens of wild animals and plants subject to CITES, a CITES form must be submitted, regardless of the value of the goods.
The general list of items subject to CITES regulation is as follows.
- Feathers of birds and geese
- Butterflies/insects
- Caviar/shells
- Furs, deer skins and stuffed game specimens
- Ivory products/tusks
- Crocodile, antelope, ostrich, lizard, crocodile skin
- Sealskin, sharkskin, whalebone products
- Turtle and tortoiseshell products
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The CITES document must contain either a purpose code or a written description of the purpose. • Additional information is required for specific types of CITES documents such as pre-Convention certificates, annexes, or certificates of origin. • The CITES document must indicate a code for the source of the specimen. •
A re-export certificate is required for the export of CITES-listed specimens that were previously imported, including items subsequently converted to manufactured goods. A certificate may be issued when evidence of legal import has been provided. If you were the original importer of the wildlife or plant, you need to provide a copy of the canceled
certificate Convention Art. III, IV, V Res. Conf. 12.3 MA No Res. 12.3, subparas. 5 i) and j) •App. I, II and III Imported in accordance w. • for App. I, import permit is required • live specimens safely transported STANDARD Introduction from the sea certificate Art. III, IV Res. Conf. 12.3 Res. Conf. 14.6 MA with advice from SA Yes Res ...
Annex 1 Information that should be included in CITES permits and certificates Annex 2 Standard CITES form; instructions and explanations Annex 3 Model travelling-exhibition certificate; instructions and explanations; continuation sheet Annex 4 Types of biological samples and their use I. Regarding standardization of CITES permits and ...
Update on marine species listing decisions. Overview of permitting process. The purpose of CITES is to ensure that international trade in wild fauna and flora is legal and sustainable. 182 Member Countries + EU, referred to as "Parties". The Convention establishes a legal framework together with common procedural mechanisms for regulating ...
presentation to indicate which components might be considered as essential (e.g. required under the National Legislation Project), recommended (e.g. in a Resolution) or desirable (e.g. ... granting of permits and certificates required for trading in CITES specimens (in order to ensure that such trade is legal, sustainable
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a United. Parties). Parties join voluntarily, but the Convention is legally binding. It provides a legal framework and each Party adopts its own national legislation to implement it. CITES came into force in 1975 and has three working languages - English, Spanish and French.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a global treaty to ensure international trade in wild plants and animals is legal, traceable, and biologically sustainable. As issues of wildlife use grow ever more complex, CITES provides tools to effectively conserve the world's diverse natural resources. The United States is one of 184 Parties ...
1.2 Annual reporting requirements CITES provides a legal framework for regulating international trade in species threatened or potentially threatened by such trade. It is based on a system whereby permits and certificates are issued for international trade in species listed in one of three Appendices, each of which provides a different degree
PART I: ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS 1 The need for CITES implementation legislation 5 1.1 CITES as a non-self-executing treaty 6 1.2 Self-executing provisions require further elaboration 7 1.3 Other reasons for implementation legislation 8 2 General considerations 10 3 Field of application 13 3.1 Species 13
Section. (1) Artificially propagated plant (see paragraph (d) (4) of this section for an Appendix-I plant propagated for commercial purposes) I, II, or III. CITES document with source code "A" 1. 23.40. (2) Artificially propagated plant from a country that has provided copies of the certificates, stamps, and seals to the Secretariat. II or III.
Customs is the key agency to control shipments of CITES specimen. I. Trade declared as CITES: Customs assess risk of counterfeited CITES permit. Checks consistency of declaration and CITES permit data. Decides on targeted controls. Endorses the CITES permit and reports actual trade to the Management Authority II.
For more information about the permits required to import, export, or re-export species listed under CITES, see our Import Guide. If the specimen is a loan, donation, or exchange between CITES-registered institutions then a Certificate of Scientific Exchange (COSE) can be used. Both the sending and receiving institutions must be CITES ...
CITES: A Convention built on permits. . The CITES permit is a key instrument of the Convention that balances conservation and sustainable use objectives. • Permit ensures legality, sustainability and traceability of trade. Four stages of the system - phased implementation.
An XML (or UN/EDIFACT) based message structure and associated data components suitable for use by developers in the building of CITES e-permit compatible systems. Information about the specification of the component model, system design, and presentation standards can be found with the CITES e-permitting toolkit.
There are special rules in these cases and a permit or certificate will generally still be required. Anyone planning to import or export/re-export specimens of a CITES species should contact the national CITES Management Authorities of the countries of import and export/re-export for information on the rules that apply.
If you are in the business of importing, exporting or re-exporting CITES or ESA regulated plants and plant products, USDA regulation 7 CFR 355 requires that you possess a valid USDA Protected Plant Permit. Importers of live plants and seeds must also obtain permits under the USDA's nursery stock regulation. CITES listed plants and plant products must enter the United States through a ...
1 of 54. Download now. Introduction to CITES. This final slide in the presentation aims to summarize and reaffirm the aims of CITES. CITES results in regulated trade in wild species that is effective and consistent CITES is based on decisions that are solidly based on the best available conservation science CITES promotes international and ...
Customs requirements for CITES items. ... (CITES certificates and permits) news. 9 March 2016. Amended current restrictions on importing live birds listed on CITES news item. 22 February 2016.
CITES: A Convention built on permits 3. Regulation of trade in 38,000+ species of animals and plants (live, dead, parts & derivatives) Import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea. Trade includes all cross-border transactions, including for non-commercial purposes. Permit ensures legality, sustainability and traceability of trade.
A CITES certificate is required when importing items protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments. The purpose is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
A source code dichotomous key was developed to assist Parties in correctly applying source codes for exports of CITES-listed specimens. Instructions on how to use the key are as follows: 1. For international trade in both plants and animals, including their parts and derivatives, begin at the bold "X" below on this page.
CITES