U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service CITES Permits and Certificates
What is CITES and how does it apply to regulated. need to provide a copy of the canceled me? CITES permit that accompanied the The Convention on International Trade in Appendix III includes species listed by shipment into the United States and, Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and a range country to obtain international for animal specimens, the cleared Flora (CITES) protects many species cooperation in controlling trade. Declaration for Importation (Form of animals and plants to ensure that 3-177) for that shipment. If you were commercial demand does not threaten What CITES documents are required? not the importer, you must provide their survival in the wild. It regulates Import copies of the importer’s documents, trade in listed species and hybrids, The import of Appendix-I specimens as well as documents that show you including parts and products, through requires both import and export purchased the wildlife or plant from a system of permits. The Division of permits. An import permit may be the original importer, or a record of Management Authority processes granted when the purpose of the sequential transactions. applications for CITES permits for import will not be detrimental to the the United States. Under CITES, a species’ survival, is not primarily species is listed at one of three levels of commercial, and the importer is protection, which have different permit suitably equipped to house and care requirements. for live animals and plants.
No import permit is required for Appendix-II or -III specimens, or for specimens that quality for other certificates (see below).
Export The export of Appendix-I and -II specimens requires an export permit. Hawksbill Turtle, CITES Appendix I Such a permit may be granted when USFWS the export will not be detrimental to the species’ survival and specimens Introduction from the Sea were legally acquired. An introduction from the sea certificate is required for the import of For Appendix-III species originating Appendix-I or -II specimens taken on from the country that listed it, an the high seas outside of any country’s export permit is required. An export jurisdiction. permit may be granted when the Management Authority determines Pre-Convention Certificate that the specimens were not obtained If a specimen was obtained prior in contravention of that country’s to the CITES listing date of that laws for the protection of animals and species—collected from the wild or plants. held in captivity—it may be granted a pre-Convention certificate that will Grey Parrot, CITES Appendix II Matthew Kenwrick, CC BY-ND-NC 2.0 Matthew Kenwrick, CC BY-ND-NC Re-export allow for the specimen to be exported. A re-export certificate is required for For Appendix-I specimens, no CITES Appendix I includes species presently the export of CITES-listed specimens import permit is required. threatened with extinction that are that were previously imported, or may be affected by trade. CITES including items subsequently Bred-in-captivity Certificate or directs its most stringent controls at converted to manufactured goods. Certificate for Artificially Propagated activities involving these species. A certificate may be issued when Plants evidence of legal import has been If a species meets the criteria for bred- Appendix II includes species that provided. If you were the original in-captivity or artificially propagated are not presently threatened with importer of the wildlife or plant, you as outlined in CITES resolutions, extinction but may become so if not the exporting country may issue an exemption certificate (bred-in- shipment must remain under Customs Appendix-I specimens may be captivity facts sheet is available). For bond. Check with other countries exported by a U.S. resident without Appendix-I specimens, no CITES involved in the shipment to meet their CITES documents, provided the import permit is required. requirements. foreign country does not require a CITES permit. Appendix-I specimens Scientific Exchange Certificate: Shipments within the United States: acquired abroad by individuals outside Scientific institutions are eligible CITES imposes no controls on their country of usual residence may for this certificate, which authorizes shipments between States or U.S. not be imported into the United States import and export of museum and without CITES permits. herbarium specimens. Such specimens must be shipped as non-commercial loans, donations, or exchanges among What foreign documentation might I need scientific institutions registered with from a country that is not a member of CITES. CITES? If you are importing CITES-listed Certificate of Origin: wildlife or plants, or their parts and For Appendix-III specimens that products, from a country that is not a originated from a country other Party (member) to CITES, you must than the listing country, a certificate obtain documents that contain all the of origin is needed to export the American Ginseng, CITES Appendix II information normally required by specimen. A certificate can be issued Gary Kauffman/U.S. Forest Service CITES. if the specimen was legally obtained within the exporting country. territories, including the District of How do I apply for a CITES permit or Columbia, Guam, Commonwealth of certificate? What about shipping live animals and Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of the 1. Complete a standard application form plants? Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin (3-200) and submit it with a processing Permits for the shipment of CITES-listed Islands, and American Samoa. fee to the Division of Management live animals or plants may be issued only Authority. Allow at least 60 days for when the applicant demonstrates that Personal or Household Effects: review. the specimen will be humanely shipped. The United States recognizes the Live animal shipments must meet the CITES personal and household effects 2. Contact your State wildlife or plant International Air Transport Association exemption for wildlife and plants, or conservation agency and the CITES (IATA) Live Animals Regulations or their parts and products, when the Management Authority of the foreign the CITES guidelines for transport. In import or export is part of a household importing or exporting country to addition, the import of live mammals and move or accompanying the owner and determine any additional requirements. birds must meet the humane shipment intended for personal use (does not (Visit the CITES Secretariat’s website at regulations in 50 CFR Part 14. include specimens mailed or shipped www.cites.org.) separately). This applies only under What exceptions are there to permit the following conditions: 3. Some CITES-listed species are requirements? also protected by other U.S. laws with In-transit Shipments: Appendix-II and -III specimens more stringent permit requirements, Under CITES, a shipment transiting may be imported and exported without i.e., Endangered Species Act, Marine a country must be accompanied by CITES documents, provided the Mammal Protection Act, and Wild Bird a CITES permit from the exporting foreign country does not require a Conservation Act. country to its final destination. The CITES permit.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service International Affairs 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 212 Arlington, VA 22203 703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.fws.gov/international
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