Wildlife-Friendly Online Trade:Standardized Policy Framework for e-Commerce and Social Media Companies
v1.0 August 12, 2016
Background:
The trade in illegal wildlife and their products has reached crisis
proportions. Demand for the rare and exotic has fueled aninternational poaching and trafficking surge that is threatening thesurvival of the world’s most iconic species and wild places. With
increased global access to technology and connectivity along supply
chain routes, the internet has unintentionally become a thriving
platform for buyers and sellers to trade illegal wildlife products. Techcompanies can be a part of the solution to this crisis by dissuadingand preventing illegal buying choices.

© Steve Morello / WWFAn efficient and impactful first step towards removing illegal wildlife
products online is the adoption of a standardized, industry-wide
policy framework on online wildlife trade. This comprehensive policy
simplifies shopping guidelines for consumers, helps educate users
about product legality and eliminates the loopholes that make it easy
for criminals to traffic wildlife online. Most importantly, by adheringto this framework, e-commerce and social media companies can help
create a unified, global front to stop wildlife crime.

Organizations that Endorse this Policy:
Online companies have endorsed this policy in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), TRAFFIC
and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to demonstrate their commitment to conserving
global wildlife populations that are threatened with poaching and illegal trade. These companies areworking together through a coalition approach to protect wildlife. Please consider adopting this standard
policy approach within your own organization to help us all block wildlife trafficking online.
Standardized Online Wildlife Trade Policy for E-Commerce and Social Media Companies:
The following text serves as a standard template that can be adapted in the format that works best foreach company’s policy framework and will also be hosted on WWF’s website. For purposes of thisdocument, “species of concern” refers to those that have been identified by conservation organizations
as threatened with extinction resulting from illegal trade, overexploitation, habitat loss and other factors.
A list of these species can be found in the supplemental annex document.

Standardized Policy Framework for e-Commerce and Social Media Companies

Page | 1

Prohibited Wildlife and Wildlife Productsa. Any wild live animal or plant or their products that were sourced illegally or are being tradedin contravention of any law. This policy does not cover domestic or farm animals such as cats,dogs and chickens.
b. The trade in and promotion of wildlife and wildlife products from species of concern isprohibited.
 These species include those regulated through their listing in Appendix I of theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which prohibits
commercial international trade in wild sourced animals and plants as well as thosespecies identified by conservation organizations as being threatened with extinction
resulting from illegal trade, overexploitation, habitat loss and other factors. A full listof these species is included below.
c. Wildlife that is protected by national law from commercial trade is prohibited.
 For example in the United States the Endangered Species Act, Lacey Act, Marine
Mammal Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, in Europe the European Union
Wildlife Trade Regulations and in China the Wild Animal Protection Law.

Examples of prohibited wildlife products include but are not limited to:Bears (e.g. Asiatic Black Bear, Giant Panda, Sloth Bear, Sun Bear)
Products derived from bear species of concern are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited
to: bear bile, claws, fur, meat, medicine, skulls, taxidermy specimens and teeth.

Big Cats (e.g. Cheetah, Jaguar, Leopard, Ocelot, Tiger)
Products derived from big cats are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: bones,claws, fur, meat, medicine, skulls, taxidermy specimens and teeth.

Birds (e.g. Falcons, Eagles and Parrots)
Products derived from Appendix I bird species are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited
to: bones, eggs, feathers, nests, skulls and taxidermy specimens.

Cetaceans (e.g. Dolphins, Porpoises, Whales)
Products derived from cetacean parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to:ambergris, bones, meat, oil, scrimshaw/teeth and skulls.

Standardized Policy Framework for e-Commerce and Social Media Companies

Page | 2Corals (Elkhorn, Staghorn)
Products derived from Elkhorn or Staghorn coral are prohibited. Sample products include but are notlimited to: decorative items, jewelry and sculptures.

Elephants (African, Asian)
Products derived from elephant parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to:ivory- raw ivory tusks, figurines (e.g. netsuke, okimono), game sets (backgammon, chess, pool sticks),
jewelry (necklace, bangle, pendant), puzzle ball, puzzle box, sculptures, snuff bottles, walking stickhandles; elephant hair- jewelry, ornaments; leather- belts, shoes, briefcases, wallets; trophies: headmounts, tails, feet (umbrella stands, ice buckets, etc.).

Marine Turtles (Flatback, Green, Hawksbill, Kemp’s Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead,Olive Ridley)
Products derived from marine turtle parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to:eggs, leather products (boots, belts), meat, oil, sunscreen, shell, shell products (bangles, bracelets, hairclips, earrings, fans, spectacles) and taxidermy specimens.
Otters (e.g. European River Otter, Giant Otter, California Sea Otter)
Products derived from Appendix I otter species parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are notlimited to: furs, fur trim, pelts, teeth and taxidermy specimens.

Pangolins (Asian, African)
Products derived from pangolin parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to:leather products (boots, belts), meat, medicine, scales, skin, scale carvings and taxidermy specimens.

Primates (e.g. Bonobo, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Monkeys, Orangutan)
Products derived from primate parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to: bone,furs, hand ashtrays, meat, medicine, skulls and taxidermy specimens.

Reptiles & Amphibians (e.g. Plowshare Tortoise, Iranian Spotted Newt, GiantSalamander)
Products derived from reptile and amphibian species of concern are prohibited. Sample products
include but are not limited to: leathers, belts, boots, bracelets, handbags, shoes, meat, teeth, skulls,shells and taxidermy specimens.

Standardized Policy Framework for e-Commerce and Social Media Companies

Page | 3

Rhinoceros (Black, Greater One-Horned, Javan, Sumatran, White)
Products derived from rhinoceros parts are prohibited. Sample products include but are not limited to:Bags, beads, bracelets, briefcases, libation cups, medicine/remedy, pendants, powder, raw horn or horn
pieces, tonics and trophies (head mounts, feet, tails).

Sharks and Sawfishes (e.g. Great White Shark, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, SmalltoothSawfish)
Products derived from shark fins and sawfish rostra (sawfish bill) are prohibited. Sample products include
but are not limited to: fin cartilage, fresh and dried fins, shark fin soup and sawfish rostrum.

Tibetan Antelope (also known as Chiru and shawls known as Shahtoosh)Products derived from Tibetan Antelope (Chiru) are prohibited. Sample products include but are notlimited to: antlers, cloth, fiber, shahtoosh shawls, taxidermy specimens and wool.
Additional Information
For more information contact your local government department responsible for wildlife trade regulation
or national CITES Management Authority. Further information on wildlife conservation and threats tospecies from illegal trade can be found through these organizations and websites:

Wildlife Trade Laws Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
 Species+: Quick CITES listing reference website
 US Endangered Species Act
 US Lacey Act
 US Marine Mammal Protection Act
 US Migratory Bird Treaty Act
 US Elephant Ivory Regulations
 EU Wildlife Trade Regulations
 China Wild Animal Protection Law
About Wildlife Trade WWF
 TRAFFIC
 International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)Standardized Policy Framework for e-Commerce and Social Media Companies

Page | 4