Council Decision (EU) 2025/1314 of 23 June 2025 on the submission, on behalf of the European Union, of proposals for amendments to the appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to that Convention
Date: 2025-06-23
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: animal life, conservation of resources, international convention, international trade, plant life, protected species, protection of animals, protection of plant life, revision of an agreement, trade restriction








L_202501314EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1314


30.6.2025







            COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1314
         
of 23 June 2025
         
on the submission, on behalf of the European Union, of proposals for amendments to the appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to that Convention


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 192(1) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:







(1)


The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1) (CITES) entered into force on 1 July 1975. The Union acceded to CITES by means of Council Decision (EU) 2015/451 (2).












(2)


Pursuant to Article XI(3), point (b), of CITES, the Conference of the Parties to CITES (the ‘Conference of the Parties’) can adopt decisions to amend Appendices I and II to CITES.












(3)


Pursuant to Article XVI of CITES, any Party can submit to the Secretariat of CITES a list of species which it identifies as being subject to regulation within its jurisdiction for the purpose of preventing or restricting exploitation, and as needing the cooperation of other Parties in the control of trade. That list is to be included in Appendix III to CITES.












(4)


The Conference of the Parties will, during its 20th meeting, from 24 November 2025 to 5 December 2025, decide on any proposals to amend Appendices I and II to CITES. The Parties must submit such proposals to the Secretariat of CITES by 27 June 2025.












(5)


Proposals to include species in Appendix III to CITES do not require a decision by the Conference of the Parties. It is nonetheless recommended that such proposals be made at least three months before the relevant meeting of the Conference of the Parties.












(6)


It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties with regard to proposals for amendments to Appendices I and II to CITES, as such amendments will be binding on the Union.












(7)


The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf with regard to the proposals for amendments to the appendices to CITES set out in this Decision is based on an expert analysis of their merits, in accordance with the criteria established in CITES and in light of the best available scientific evidence. That expert analysis supports the proposals for amendments to the appendices to CITES set out in this Decision with a view to ensuring that trade in the species concerned does not threaten their survival in the wild,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The proposals for amendments to Appendices I and II to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to be submitted by the Union on the occasion of the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (the ‘Conference of the Parties’) are set out in Annex I to this Decision. The proposals for amendments to Appendices I and II to CITES to be co-submitted by the Union on that occasion are set out in Annex II to this Decision.


Article 2
The submission for inclusion in Appendix III to CITES to be made by the Union on the occasion of the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties is set out in Annex III to this Decision.


Article 3
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties shall be to support the proposals for amendments to Appendices I and II to CITES set out in Annexes I and II to this Decision.


Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Luxembourg, 23 June 2025.


For the Council


The President

C. SIEKIERSKI
            





(1)  
            OJ L 75, 19.3.2015, p. 4, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2015/451/oj.

(2)  Council Decision (EU) 2015/451 of 6 March 2015 concerning the accession of the European Union to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (OJ L 75, 19.3.2015, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/451/oj).




ANNEX I
Proposals for amendments to Appendices I and II to CITES to be submitted by the Union








Taxonomic group




Taxon (common name)




Proposal





Reptiles




Gekko badenii
*
(Ba Den Golden gecko)
* Subject to the expression of support from the only range State, Viet Nam, by 20.06.2025; no positive reply by that date results in no submission of the proposal



Include in Appendix II




Amphibians




Pelophylax epeiroticus, Pelophylax shqipericus, Pelophylax ridibundus and Pelophylax lessonae


(Water frogs)


Include in Appendix II (with 18 months delay in entry into force)




Fish




Anguilla spp.

(Freshwater eels)


Include in Appendix II (with 18 months delay in entry into force)






Centrophoridae


(Gulper sharks)


Include in Appendix II




Invertebrates




Holothuria lessoni


(Golden sandfish)


Include in Appendix II






Actinopyga echinites, Actinopyga lecanora, Actinopyga mauritiana, Actinopyga miliaris, Actinopyga palauensis and Actinopyga varians


(Sea cucumbers)


Include in Appendix II




Trees




Commiphora wightii


(Indian bdellium)


Include in Appendix II






Araucaria angustifolia
*
(Paraná pine)
* Subject to the expression of support from Brazil by 20.06.2025; no positive reply by that date results in no submission of the proposal



Include in Appendix II (with the annotation #17)









ANNEX II
Proposals for amendments to Appendices I and II to CITES to be co-submitted by the Union








Taxonomic group




Taxon (common name)




Proposal





Fish




Carcharhinus longimanus


(Oceanic whitetip shark)


Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I






Galeorhinus galeus


(Tope shark),


Mustelus spp.

(Smoothhounds)*
* Subject to confirmation from Brazil of their intention to submit the proposal



Include in Appendix II









ANNEX III
Amendment to Appendix III to CITES to be submitted by the Union








Taxonomic group




Taxon (common name)




Proposal





Reptiles




Gallotia atlantica, Gallotia bravoana, Gallotia caesaris, Gallotia galloti, Gallotia intermedia, Gallotia stehlini




Include in Appendix III







ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1314/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)