The CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement
between Governments with the aim to ensure that international
trade with specimens or parts of wild animals and plants does
not threaten their survival. Levels of exploitation of some
animal and plant species is high and the trade in them, together
with other factors, such as habitat loss, is capable of bringing
some species close to extinction. Read more about CITES at
the homepage of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora.
CITES in the EU
In the European Union CITES is implemented through the EU
Wildlife Trade Regulations, which go beyond CITES in a number
of respects (read more in 'Differences
between the EU and CITES'). These regulations include
Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 on the protection of species
of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (the Basic
Regulation) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying
down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council
Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (the Implementing Regulation). In
addition, a specific Regulation is in place to suspend the
introduction into the Community of certain species from certain
countries (known as the Suspensions Regulation).
The European Commission adopted in June 2007 the Recommendation
No 2007/425/EC identifying a set of actions to be carried
out by Member States for the enforcement.
Synergies between CITES and CBD
The overall goals of the two most widely accepted and well-known conventions,
CITES and CBD are broadly compatible and can be mutually beneficial. The Addis
Ababa Principles and Guidelines of the CBD (CBD COP Decision VII.12) call for
the sustainable use of biological diversity. These guidelines also integrate
the “non-detriment standards” of CITES. As this is recognized by the Parties,
working documents in this matter have been submitted to the 13th Conference
of the Parties to CITES, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2 to 14 October 2004.
CBD can be an effective vehicle to support the conservation and sustainable
use of the species listed in the Appendices of CITES, and on the other hand,
the trade measures of CITES contribute to the sustainable management of trade
in fauna and flora, in line with the objectives of CBD.
As such, the provisions of the two conventions provide a vehicle to achieve the
2010 target articulated at different international fora, that
is to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. Several mechanisms
have been established to foster greater cooperation between
the two conventions, including a Memorandum of Cooperation and
the development of joint work plans. However up to now there
has been relatively little interaction among the decision-making
and implementation processes, so it is high time to enhance
the synergy and promote further harmonization of procedures
and mechanisms within CBD and CITES, to meet the objectives
of both Conventions.
