Introduction to CITES

What is CITES?

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The aim of the Convention is to regulate and monitor the international trade in certain species of animals and plants, and to ensure that trade does not threaten their survival in the wild.

CITES is an international agreement between Governments, known as Parties to the Convention, which was agreed in Washington in 1973. It entered into force in 1975. Over 170 Parties (countries) have signed up to the Convention. Ireland became a CITES Party in 2002. The full text of the Convention can be found on the CITES website.

CITES CoP 19 and Implications for Irish Trade

Introduction to CITES CoP 

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an internationally agreed convention between 184 countries or parties. The aim of the convention is ensure sustainable global trade in wild species of plants and animals and support their long term conservation. The 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties for CITES (CITES COP19) took place in Panama City, Panama on 13 November to 25 November 2022. Ireland’s delegates from the CITES Management and Scientific authorities along with more than 2,500 others took part in the meeting, which had representatives from parties, industry, NGOs & media. The CITES CoP is held every three years. 
Ireland chaired the EU Tree and Plants working group in advance of the CoP focusing on the appropriate lines to take and speaking notes for the CITES CoP plant proposals. Ireland is also the alternative European representative to the CITES Standing Committee focused on compliance, management and enforcement and a selected expert member of the scientific CITES Plants Committee.

CITES CoP 19 aimed to address biodiversity loss through globally managing trade and exploitation of wild species. Over-exploitation was highlighted as one of the main threats to biodiversity in the IPBES Global Biodiversity and ecosystem report in 2019. 

At CITES CoP 19 there were 52 proposals to amend the CITES Appendices 46 of which were adopted.

These adopted proposals will come into effect 90 days after the CITES Conference 
i.e 25th February 2023

CITES offers three levels of protection for wild species in trade. Appendix 1 is the highest level of protection, where international trade is permitted for conservation purposes only. Appendix II regulates trade through a full record of permitted trade for all import and exports in the EU and also requires legally binding declarations on acquisition and non-detriment to the species. Appendix III assists countries in monitoring their own wildlife trade through a set of trade notifications from the importing country.

Over six hundred species were up for discussion in the 52 proposals to amend the appendices. The proposals focused on a huge range of wild species - animals from large charismatic megafauna including hippos, elephants, and rhino with five proposals. One  proposal on prairie dog; four on various bird species; three on crocodiles; seven on gecko and lizards; two on snakes; twelve on turtles; two on frogs including the iconic glass and leaf frogs; two on large sharks; one on freshwater stingrays; two on fish and one on cryptic sea cucumbers.

There were ten proposals to regulate trade in over 160 timber and tree species, one on a medicinal plant and two on regulating trade in orchids found in cosmetics from artificially propagated sources.

EU Proposals to CoP 19

13 of the 52 proposals were EU proposals all of which were adopted by CoP 19. The EU focused its proposals to species exploited for the pet trade, overfished species and tropical hardwood timbers. The objective being to advance protection for species that are affected by unsustainable levels of international trade and to strengthen the international response to wildlife trafficking. Set out below are those which are or are likely to be found in Irish and EU trade. Other Lizards, geckos and snakes proposed by other countries may also be found in the pet trade. Pet traders and timber traders in Ireland are encouraged to view the full list of all the Proposals for amendment of Appendices I and II | CITES.

Species common in EU and Irish Pet trade for which trade is now regulated

EU proposals accepted regulating timber species in Irish and EU Trade

One of the EU proposals was to regulate trade in a medicinal plant Roseroot which is found in Ireland though is not harvested in Ireland. It can be found in trade here as a finished product. 

The EU also supported range states in regulation in species overexploited in marine environment which are not likely in Irish trade. Though trade in shark fins and sea cucumbers for culinary purposes may be more common in other EU MS.

Highlights of other proposals which have possible implications and impacts in EU and Irish trade.

• Eels (Anguilla spp.) range states of European Eel to ensure that they strengthen coordination to improve traceability and effective enforcement measures
• Parties to endorse the definition of term zoonoses as “infectious diseases that can be spread between animals and humans; can spread by food, water, fomites or vectors.”
• Parties to ensure that corruption risk mitigation policies and strategies are in place to address corruption risks associated with wildlife crime under the Enforcement Matters document
• Parties to translate the Guidance on demand reduction to combat illegal trade and to report on its implementation.
• Parties to ensure that professionals involved in wildlife trade and management receive training on CITES and their role in implementing the Convention and compliance with relevant national laws.

References

IPBES (2019): Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. S. Díaz, J. Settele, E. S. Brondízio, H. T. Ngo, M. Guèze, J. Agard, A. Arneth, P. Balvanera, K. A. Brauman, S. H. M. Butchart, K. M. A. Chan, L. A. Garibaldi, K. Ichii, J. Liu, S. M. Subramanian, G. F. Midgley, P. Miloslavich, Z. Molnár, D. Obura, A. Pfaff, S. Polasky, A. Purvis, J. Razzaque, B. Reyers, R. Roy Chowdhury, Y. J. Shin, I. J. Visseren-Hamakers, K. J. Willis, and C. N. Zayas (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 56 pages. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3553579

IPBES (2019): Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. E. S. Brondizio, J. Settele, S. Díaz, and H. T. Ngo (editors). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 1148 pages. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3831673

Wyse Jackson, M., FitzPatrick, Ú., Cole, E., Jebb, M., McFerran, D., Sheehy Skeffington, M. & Wright, M. (2016) .  Ireland Red List No. 10: Vascular Plants. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Dublin, Ireland.

Trade in Elephant Ivory

The Revised Guidance on Ivory Trade

The European Commission have announced that the revised Guidance on ivory trade, the amended Commission Regulation 865/2006, amended Annexes to Council Regulation 338/97 and amended Implementing Regulation 712/2012 were adopted on 16^th December 2021.

The revised acts will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 30 December 2021 in all official EU languages.

Please find hereafter some press materials published on the Commission website as well as the documents:

• Press Release
• Questions and Answers
• Documents adopted by the Commission (in English only)
• Factsheet ivory trade (in English only - other language versions will be available end of January)

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your contributions to the revision process.

Irish CITES Management Authority

How are species controlled?

Over 4,000 animal and 25,000 plant species are included in Appendices I, II and III of CITES, which accord them varying degrees of protection.

Appendix I includes species which are threatened with extinction and for which trade is authorized only in exceptional circumstances. Examples include:

• the great apes
• tigers
• sperm whales
• many parrots and macaws
• Brazilian rosewood.

Appendix II includes the majority of CITES species; these are species which are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but they may become so unless trade is strictly regulated. Examples include:

• the African lion
• hippopotamus
• many parrots and birds of prey
• seahorses
• corals
• the majority of orchids and cacti

Appendix III contains species protected or regulated by at least one country and assistance by other Parties is required in order to control international trade. For example, Canada has listed walrus on Appendix III, and Peru, Colombia and Guatemala have all listed Spanish Cedar on Appendix III.

How is trade regulated?

CITES regulates international trade in specimens listed on Appendices I-III based on a system of permits. Each Party is required to designate a Management Authority competent to grant CITES permits and certificates, and a Scientific Authority responsible for advising the Management Authority on scientific aspects of implementation and monitoring of national trade.

Irish CITES Authorities

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are the Management and Scientific authorities for Ireland. The Authorities are located at:

CITES Privacy Statement

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