Introduction
The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) received royal assent on 17 December 1992 and came into force on 14 May 1996 when the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations took effect. The purpose of WAPPRIITA is to protect Canadian and foreign species of animals and plants that may be at risk of overexploitation because of poaching or illegal trade and to safeguard Canadian ecosystems from the introduction of species designated as harmful. It accomplishes these objectives by controlling the international trade and interprovincial transport of wild animals and plants, as well as their parts and derivatives, and by making it an offence to transport illegally obtained wildlife between provinces or territories or between Canada and other countries.
WAPPRIITA is the legislative vehicle by which Canada meets its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, commonly called CITES. Canada became one of the original Parties to this international agreement in 1973, which has been adopted by 153 sovereign states by the end of 2000. CITES sets controls on the trade and international movement of animal and plant species that have been, or may be, threatened with overexploitation as a result of trade pressures. Such species are identified by the Parties and listed in one of three appendices to the Convention according to the level of control considered necessary for them. Appendix I lists species that are threatened with extinction. Trade in these species is strictly regulated to ensure their survival, and trade for primarily commercial purposes is prohibited. Appendix II lists species that are not currently threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is strictly regulated to avoid overexploitation. Individual Parties may list species found within their borders in Appendix III in order to manage international trade in those species.
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