U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora (CITES) is an international treaty

ratified by most countries worldwide

since it first entered into force in 1975.

The treaty ensures that international

wildlife trade is based on sustainable use

and management of wild and captive

populations of animals and plants. It

monitors the status of these species in

commercial trade among countries to

safeguard these resources for the future.

CITES Appendix II is: CITES Appendix II is:

! NOT a list of species in which

international trade is prohibited.

CITES Appendix-II species may be

traded internationally if

accompanied by appropriate

permits.

! NOT a list of endangered species.

CITES helps support natural

resource management programs in

range countries to prevent

endangerment.

! NOT a ban or boycott of trade.

CITES helps regulate and monitor

trade for species vulnerable to

overuse, and implements measures

to attain sustainable harvest and

legal trade.

How It Works: How It Works:

Exporters must obtain a CITES permit

from their national CITES Management

Authority for each shipment that

contains CITES-listed specimens. A

permit is based on findings made by the

Management Authority and, in many

cases, a non-detriment finding made by

the Scientific Authority. In the United

States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

is home to these two offices. Visit our

CITES Appendix II

Supports Sustainable

Use

website at www.international.fws.gov, or

contact us for application forms and

information on obtaining permits. The

CITES Secretariat maintains a list of

national CITES authority addresses and

contact information at www.cites.org.

Export permits for an Appendix-II

specimen can be issued only when the

following findings are made:

! A scientific finding of nondetriment—data or expert scientific

opinion on the biological status of the

species indicating that the export is

not likely to be detrimental to species

survival. Sustainable use is the

essence of a CITES non-detriment

finding. Depending on the species and

the magnitude of exports anticipated,

non-detriment findings are made

either on specific applications or

generically (for all potential exports

collectively).

Generic findings may advise that a

quota (maximum allowable number)

or other export limitation mechanism

be imposed to ensure that exports

remain non-detrimental to the

survival of the species. That quota is

set by the exporting country. Countries are encouraged to notify the

CITES Secretariat of national quotas.

The Secretariat then informs other

countries and posts the quotas on its

website.

! A finding that specimens were

acquired legally – evidence that

specimens to be exported were not

obtained in violation of any state,

federal, or other jurisdictional law.

Live animal and plant shipments must

be prepared so as to minimize risk of

CITES permits

provide assurance

that the specimen

in international

trade has come

from legal and

sustainable

sources.

Two examples of thriving international

commerce in U.S. native species listed

in CITES Appendix II are trade in

American alligator products and

American ginseng roots.

© Alligator Trading Company, Dade City, Florida
injury, damage to health, or cruel

treatment. In the case of air transport,

animals must be shipped in accordance

with International Air Transport

Association (IATA) Live Animals

Regulations.

Similarity of Appearance. Sometimes

species are listed in Appendix II to

enable effective regulation of other listed

species. Usually, this type of listing is

necessary when species, or their parts or

products, are similar in appearance to

other listed species and could cause

identification difficulties. For these

species, the scientific non-detriment

finding is based on the risk their export

presents to the listed species they

resemble. The process also includes

monitoring to ensure that these lookalike species are not adversely affected

by trade.

Captive Breeding and Artificial

Propagation. Because the impact of

export on wild populations of listed

animals and plants is a CITES concern,

it is easier for CITES authorities to

make the appropriate export findings for

animals produced in captivity and plants

propagated under controlled conditions.

However, if the captive breeding and

propagation operations draw on wild

populations to establish, expand, or

maintain their breeding and propagation

stock, the findings may be more

complicated.

Potential Impacts of Appendix-II Export Potential Impacts of Appendix-II Export

on Commercial Interests: on Commercial Interests:

A CITES Scientific Authority may be

unable to make a finding of nondetriment when species are vulnerable to

harvest from the wild because of

biological limitations; are harvested in

quantities too large to ensure

sustainability; or are not subject to a

management program or other

mechanism assuring sustainable use.

When this happens, a permit application

is denied or a zero export quota is set.

Benefits of Appendix-II Export Controls

to Commercial Interests: to Commercial Interests:

Longstanding international cooperation

is the basis of CITES’ effectiveness. The

support of businesses, consumers, and

the general public are vital to balancing

conservation and trade needs within

countries. Listing a species in Appendix

II can produce the following benefits:

! Validation (through CITES permits)

that the specimen has come from legal

and sustainable sources, and has met

international standards;

Cacti propagation

Roddy Gabel Roddy Gabel

! Assurance that trade practices follow

principles of sustainability;

! Uniform responsibility to address

illegal trade, since all countries must

meet the same CITES permitting

conditions and enforce the listing;

! Increased public awareness of the

important role CITES plays to

conserve animals and plants, and a

broader body of information on which

to base consumer decisions;

! Assurance of long-term species

sustainability through control of

trade, and consumer confidence that

species are being used in ways that

are not harmful to their ecosystem.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

International Affairs

Division of Management Authority

4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700

Arlington, VA 22203

703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104

Fax 703/358-2281

e-mail: managementauthority@fws.gov

http://international.fws.gov

http://permits.fws.gov

Summer 2003

Coral and coral products

USFWS