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What is CITES?
CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, came into effect in 1975. The Convention is administered by the United Nations Environment Program and 154 countries are a Party to the Convention.
The Convention was established with the aim of controlling and monitoring the international trade in plants and animals considered to be threatened, or likely to become threatened, and affected by such trade. Generally, the Convention does not prohibit the international trade in listed species, but seeks to prevent the unsustainable exploitation of wild populations of plants and animals.
The CITES Convention consists of a text setting out the main "rules" and three Appendices, or lists, of plants and animals. Trade in species included in these Appendices is controlled and monitored by means of a permit system. In CITES terms, "trade" means movement across international borders. In the European Union, CITES is implemented by means of EC Regulations which in some instances differ from the Convention: for example, the CITES Appendices are "replaced" by Annexes.
For further information, please consult the CITES website.
