CITES

About CITES:

ØCITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.

ØIt was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

ØThe convention was opened for signature in 1973 and CITES entered into force on 1 July 1975.

ØCITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, which are obliged to adopt their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.

Objective of CITES

ØIts aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

ØIt accords varying degrees of protection to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants.

ØIn order to ensure that the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was not violated, the Secretariat of GATT was consulted during the drafting process.

Classifications of CITES Appendix

1Appendix I:It lists species that are in danger of extinction. It prohibits commercial trade of these plants and animals

Ø(exception: extraordinary situations for scientific or educational reasons.)

2Appendix II species:They are those that are not threatened with extinction but that might suffer a serious decline in number if trade is not restricted.

ØTheir trade is regulated by permit.

3Appendix III species:They are protected in at least one country that is a CITES member state and that has petitioned others for help in controlling international trade in that species.