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Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Information Note

GENERAL INFORMATION

Wildlife trade

Throughout human history, people have depended on wild plants and animals for food, apparel, shelter, and commodities for trade. Trade in wildlife and wildlife products can be beneficial, providing jobs and income while posing little risk to source populations, as long as it is managed well and maintained at sustainable levels. Many countries often depend heavily on controlled exploitation of their natural resources to provide needed income. Legalized hunting and wildlife tourism may be vital components of their economies.

On the other hand, uncontrolled wildlife trade can have many negative effects. It can

  • reduce or even eliminate world populations of some species;
  • contribute to the loss of biodiversity throughout the world;
  • introduce exotic (non-native) species that may upset the balance of native ecosystems;
  • squander a country's economic resources and threaten some livelihoods;
  • promote poaching and black marketing;
  • involve cruelty to animals and wastage of wildlife.

What is CITES?

Recognizing the benefits of controlled wildlife trade and the threat of illegal trade, in 1975 the world community adopted the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, commonly called CITES. CITES is an international agreement to regulate trade in certain species of wild animals and plants, their parts, and products made from them. For the purposes of the Convention, international trade includes the international movement (import and export) of the listed species, including that for certain items for personal use and under certain conditions. Canada was one of the original Parties to the Convention, which has now been adopted by over 165 sovereign states.

CITES sets trade controls for species that are, or may be, threatened with over-exploitation as a result of trade pressures. Such species are identified by the Parties and listed by their scientific names in one of three appendices to the Convention according to the level of control considered necessary for them. Scientific terminology is used because it accurately identifies the goods in trade and avoids the confusion created by the use of common names. More than 4000 animals and 25,000 plants are listed in this way.

What species are controlled by CITES?

Appendix I of CITES lists species that are threatened with extinction. Trade in these species is strictly regulated to ensure their survival. Trade for primarily commercial purposes is prohibited. Commercial purposes refer to the sale, offering for sale, trade or barter of an item. They also include any display, performance, or exhibit of the item for profit, as well as the use of the item to solicit sales. The limited trade that is allowed (e.g., for scientific or breeding purposes) requires both a CITES export permit from the exporting country and a CITES import permit from the receiving country.

Appendix II lists species that are not currently threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is regulated to avoid over-exploitation. Species may also be listed in Appendix II because they are difficult to distinguish from other species listed in Appendix I or II (such species are commonly said to be listed for "look-alike" reasons). Trade in Appendix II species requires a CITES export permit from the exporting country. A two-thirds majority of votes cast at a Conference of the Parties is required to list, de-list, or change the listing of any species in Appendix I or II.

Individual countries that are party to the Convention may list species found within their borders in Appendix III in order to manage international trade in those species. A CITES export permit from the listing nation is required for trade in these species, while a CITES certificate of origin must accompany shipments exported from countries other than the listing nation.

Amendments to CITES appendices are considered every three years at Meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. These changes are reflected in amendments to Schedule I of Canada's Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations.

How is CITES administered and enforced in Canada?

CITES was first implemented in Canada mainly through the Export and Import Permits Act. In May 1996 Canada adopted new legislation to govern trade in wildlife. The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) was designed to help Canada fulfil its CITES obligations more effectively and to offer greater protection to all wildlife from both Canada and other countries. Environment Canada administers WAPPRIITA through its national office, where the national CITES management and scientific authorities are located. CITES management and scientific authorities are also located in Fisheries and Oceans Canada for fish and marine mammals, and in each province and territory (except Alberta and Saskatchewan) for provincially and territorially managed species. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency assists Environment Canada by processing CITES documentation for the export of artificially propagated plants. Although not issuing CITES permits, a CITES management and a CITES scientific authorities are located in the Department of Natural Resources' Canadian Forest Service. The CFS provides advice on the management of tree species in Canada and abroad.

The CITES management and scientific authorities have specific roles in approving applications to import and export wildlife or wildlife products listed by CITES. The management authority ensures that specimens were legally acquired and, in the case of Appendix I species, that specimens are not being traded primarily for commercial purposes. The scientific authority ensures that the trade of a specimen will not affect the survival of the species in the wild and, in the case of live imports, that the specimen will be given proper housing and care. A permit is issued only if both authorities are satisfied that all conditions are met.

Enforcement of WAPPRIITA, and thus of CITES, is overseen by the Enforcement Branch in Environment Canada in cooperation with other federal agencies (the Canada Border Services Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), as well as with provincial and territorial wildlife agencies. Breaking Canada's wildlife trade law can bring serious penalties. For lesser offences a person may be fined up to $25,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both. Conviction on more serious offences, such as organized poaching and trafficking, may result in fines up to $150,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Fines for corporations are higher: up to $50,000 for lesser offences and up to $300,000 for serious offences.

Are permits required for all CITES-listed specimens?

CITES permits are not needed for certain personal or household effects, with some exceptions. See Information Note Personal and Household Effects for more details.

CITES permits are required for items that are pre-Convention, captive bred, or artificially propagated, but the controls that apply to them are less strict. Definitions of these categories follow.

Pre-Convention refers to the date where live or dead animals or plants were taken from the wild or bred in captivity or artificially propagated or, in the case of their parts or derivatives, taken into personal possession (whichever is the earliest verifiable date), before the species in question was first listed in any of the CITES appendices. Since Canada started to implement the Convention on July 3, 1975, this is the earliest date that applies.

Captive-bred refers to animals born in captivity to parents that were mated in a controlled environment, such as a zoo or other breeding facility. The animal must originate from a breeding facility whose breeding stock has produced offspring to the second or subsequent generations in captivity or the breeding is managed in a manner that has been demonstrated to be capable of reliably producing second generation offspring in a controlled environment.

Artificially propagated refers to plants grown by people from seeds, cuttings, divisions, callus tissues or other plant tissues, spores, or other propagules under controlled conditions.

How can I apply for the required permits?

Please note that you must obtain all permits before export or import. Items being moved without the proper permits cannot be allowed exit from Canada or entry into Canada.

Import permits
All Canadian CITES import permits are issued by the Canadian CITES Management Authority at the address below. In most cases, the Canadian CITES Management Authority can also provide you with the address to which you can apply for a CITES import permit from a foreign country, or preferably, please visit the National contacts section of the CITES Secretariat's Website. Application form can be downloaded from our Website. Canadian CITES.

Canadian CITES import permit applications must be fully completed. When applying for an import permit, you will be asked for the following information:

  • information on the applicant and importer (these may be the same);
  • information on the supplier of the specimen(s);
  • the purpose of the importation into Canada (e.g., breeding, education, scientific, personal use);
  • the scientific and common names of the animal or plant, their parts, or derivatives;
  • the number or quantity of the specimen;
  • the country of origin (e.g., the country where the specimen was removed from the wild or where it was bred in captivity or artificially propagated);
  • the country of last re-export;
  • the source of the specimen (e.g., wild versus bred in captivity or artificially propagated);
  • if the specimen was removed from the wild, proof that it was taken legally (e.g., a copy of a sampling permit or licence from the regulating authorities);
  • the date of acquisition of pre-Convention specimens;
  • if the plant was artificially propagated or the animal was bred in captivity, proof of this condition (e.g., a certificate to this effect from the nursery or breeding facility);
  • for live animals, the age, sex, and any identification marks (e.g., tattoo, band, microchip, ISIS, studbook, or serial numbers; identifying physical marking);
  • for live animals, the facilities in which you intend to keep and care for the animal.

Export permits
The Canadian CITES Management Authority issues Canadian CITES export permits for all artificially propagated plants (except for species native to Quebec, excluding ginseng). See Information Notes Orchids, Cacti and American ginseng for details on exporting these from Canada. Apply at the address below.

The Canadian CITES Management Authority also issues all Travelling Exhibition Certificates, Certificates of Ownership for Personal Pets and Scientific Certificates.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada issues Canadian CITES export permits for fish and marine mammals. To apply, please contact one of their regional offices.

The provinces and territories issue Canadian CITES export permits for all other items leaving their jurisdictions. Apply to the wildlife service in the province or territory of export. The exceptions to this are British Columbia (for species that are not native to the province and for all plants) and Alberta, Quebec and Saskatchewan (for all species). The Canadian CITES Management Authority issues the required export permit in these cases. To apply, please contact a district or regional office of the department responsible for wildlife within your province or territory.

Canadian CITES export permit applications must be fully completed (in accordance with instructions provided with the application). When applying for an export permit, you will be asked for information similar to that detailed above for import permit applications. Please note that if you intend to export an Appendix I item from Canada, you must first obtain a CITES import permit from the importing country and submit this permit with your application for the export permit.

In most cases, the Canadian CITES Management Authority can also provide you with the address to which you may apply for a CITES export permit from a foreign country or preferably, please visit the National contacts section of the CITES Secretariat's Website.

Are there cases in which a CITES permit cannot be granted?

To qualify for a permit, you must meet certain requirements. CITES permits cannot be granted unless it can be shown that

  • the export and the import are not detrimental to the survival of the species;
  • the specimens have been legally obtained in the country of origin and legally imported into a country of re-export;
  • live specimens will be prepared for shipping and shipped in a way that minimizes the risk of injury, damage to health, and cruel treatment;
  • the recipient of an Appendix I species is equipped to house and care for the animal properly;
  • an Appendix I species will not be used for primarily commercial purposes.

A CITES permit cannot be granted if all the requirements are not met.

What if the country I am importing from is not a CITES party?

If you are dealing with a state that is not a Party to CITES, the Convention requires that you obtain documents equivalent to the required CITES permits. This document could be a foreign export permit or a document indicating that the foreign government approves the export and certifies that trade is not detrimental to the survival of the species. Without the required permits or comparable documentation, specimens of CITES-controlled species cannot be legally imported into Canada. Customs declarations or consignment notes are not acceptable as foreign export permits. Only documents provided by the foreign government department responsible for managing animal and plant resources are acceptable. Trade may only occur with countries that are listed in the CITES Secretariat's Directory as issuing acceptable and comparable to Convention documents. This list is available from the National contacts section of the CITES Secretariat's Website - click Non-Parties.

Are there any labelling requirements?

Under Canadian regulations, an importer or exporter must correctly identify all goods being imported into or exported from Canada. This is best done using the scientific name of the species. Canadian law requires accurate labelling of all shipping labels or containers with respect to CITES-listed species and permits prosecution based either on the label or on the actual contents.

For more information

For more information on WAPPRIITA and its regulations, as well as CITES, appendix listings, and specific permit and other requirements for taking CITES-listed species into and out of Canada, visit www.cites.ec.gc.ca or contact the Canadian CITES Management Authority:

CITES Management Authority
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H3

Telephone: 819-997-1840
Fax: 819-953-6283