Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Summary
The purpose of CITES is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild fauna and flora does not threaten their survival on earth. It works by placing controls on the international trade in specimens of certain species of concern. Any and all import, export, re-export and introduction of any species covered by CITES has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each country who is part of the Convention designates their own authorities in charge of administering this system (Management Authority) and designates their own scientific personnel (Scientific Authority) to counsel them on the effects of trade on any listed species. Although CITES is legally binding on the countries involved, it does not take the place of national laws. Instead, CITES provides a framework to be respected by each country, which has to pass its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level. There are currently 175 countries with CITES membership.
The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.
The Appendices
Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. The Conference of the Parties has agreed on a set of biological and trade criteria to help determine whether a species should be included in Appendices I or II. Each country (each party) may submit proposals based on those criteria to amend the species listed in these two Appendices. Those amendment proposals are discussed and then submitted to a vote. Species may also be moved between Appendices I and II by this same procedure.
Appendix I Import/Export Procedures
- An import permit issued by the Management Authority of the country of import is required. This may be issued only if the specimen is not to be used for primarily commercial purposes and if the import will be for purposes that are not detrimental to the survival of the species. In the case of a live animal or plant, the Scientific Authority must be satisfied that the proposed recipient is suitably equipped to house and care for it.
- An export permit or re-export certificate issued by the Management Authority of the country of export or re-export is also required.
- An export permit may be issued only if the specimen was legally obtained; the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species; and an import permit has already been issued.
- A re-export certificate may be issued only if the specimen was imported in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and, in the case of a live animal or plant, if an import permit has been issued.
- In the case of a live animal or plant, it must be prepared and shipped to minimize any risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
When a specimen of a CITES-listed species is transferred between a country that is a member of the Convention and a country that is not, the country that is a member may accept documentation equivalent to the permits and certificates described above for both import and export. Please see the provided links and sources at the bottom of this page for more details.
Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. The process for listing is the same as for Appendix I.
Appendix II Import/Export Procedures
- An export permit or re-export certificate issued by the Management Authority of the country of export or re-export is required.
- An export permit may be issued only if the specimen was legally obtained and if the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species.
- A re-export certificate may be issued only if the specimen was imported in accordance with the Convention.
- In the case of a live animal or plant, it must be prepared and shipped to minimize any risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
- No import permit is needed unless required by national law.
When a specimen of a CITES-listed species is transferred between a country that is a member of the Convention and a country that is not, the country that is a member may accept documentation equivalent to the permits and certificates described above for both import and export. Please see the provided links and sources at the bottom of this page for more details.
Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each country is entitled to make unilateral amendments to it. Species may be added and removed from Appendix III at any time, by any member of the Convention (however, this is often done at the same time as changes are made to Appendices I and II).
Appendix III Import/Export Procedures
- In the case of trade from a country that included the species in Appendix III (seen in parentheses on the list below), an export permit issued by the Management Authority of that country is required. This may be issued only if the specimen was legally obtained and, in the case of a live animal or plant, if it will be prepared and shipped to minimize any risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
- In the case of export from any other country, a certificate of origin issued by its Management Authority is required.
- In the case of re-export, a re-export certificate issued by the State of re-export is required.
There are often exceptions to the principles for Appendix III. There are special rules in these cases and permit(s) or certificate(s) will generally still be required. It is suggested that anyone planning to import or export/re-export specimens of a CITES species should contact the national CITES Management Authorities of the countries of import and export/re-export for information on the rules that apply.
When a specimen of a CITES-listed species is transferred between a country that is a member of the Convention and a country that is not, the country that is a member may accept documentation equivalent to the permits and certificates described above for both import and export. Please see the provided links and sources at the bottom of this page for more details.
United States Implementation of CITES
The United States implements CITES in the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). In Section 8A. of the ESA, the Secretary of the Interior is designated as both the Management Authority and Scientific Authority for purposes of the Convention. The United States appears to follow the exact framework laid out by CITES without any added restrictions directly in implemention of CITES. However, some CITES listed species are then given a higher level of protection through the ESA.
Complete List of Turtles Protected by CITES
Up to Date as of April 2021; Source - CITES.org
| Species Group | Common Name | Appendix |
|---|---|---|
| Amyda cartilaginea | Asiatic Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Apalone ferox | Florida Softshell | Appendix III (USA) |
| Apalone mutica ssp. | Smooth Softshell - All | Appendix III (USA) |
| Apalone spinifera atra | Cuatro Cienegas/Black Spiny Softshell | Appendix I |
| Apalone spinifera ssp. | Spiny Softshell - All not in higher appendix | Appendix III (USA) |
| Astrochelys radiata | Madagascar Radiated Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Astrochelys yniphora | Ploughshare Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Batagur affinis | Southern River Terrapin | Appendix I |
| Batagur baska | Northern River Terrapin | Appendix I |
| Batagur spp. | Batagur – All not in Appendix I | Appendix II |
| Caretta caretta | Loggerhead Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Carettochelys insculpta | Fly River Turtle | Appendix II |
| Chelodina mccordi | Roti Island Snake-Necked Turtle | Appendix II |
| Chelonia mydas | Green Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Chelonoidis nigra | Galapagos Tortoises | Appendix I |
| Chelydra serpentina | Common Snapping Turtle | Appendix III (USA) |
| Chitra chitra | Asian Narrow-Headed Softshell Turtle | Appendix I |
| Chitra spp. | Chitra – All not in Appendix I | Appendix II |
| Chitra vandijki | Burmese Narrow-Headed Softshell Turtle | Appendix I |
| Clemmys guttata | Spotted Turtle | Appendix II |
| Cuora bourreti | Bourret's Box Turtle | Appendix I |
| Cuora picturata | Southern Vietnam Box Turtle | Appendix I |
| Cuora spp. | Cuora – All not in Appendix I | Appendix II |
| Cyclanorbis elegans | Nubian Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Cyclanorbis senegalensis | Senegal Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Cyclemys spp. | Cyclemys – All | Appendix II |
| Cycloderma aubryi | Aubry's Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Cycloderma frenatum | Zambezi Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Dermatemys mawii | Central American River Turtle | Appendix II |
| Dermochelys coriacea | Leatherback Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Dogania subplana | Malayan Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Emydoidea blandingii | Blanding's Turtle | Appendix II |
| Eretmochelys imbricata | Hawksbill Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Erymnochelys madagascariensis | Madagascan Big-Headed Turtle | Appendix II |
| Geochelone elegans | Indian Star Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Geochelone platynota | Burmese Star Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Geoclemys hamiltonii | Indian Spotted Pond Turtle | Appendix I |
| Geoemyda japonica | Ryukyu Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle | Appendix II |
| Geoemyda spengleri | Black-Breasted Leaf Turtle | Appendix II |
| Glyptemys insculpta | North American Wood Turtle | Appendix II |
| Glyptemys muhlenbergii | Bog Turtle | Appendix I |
| Gopherus flavomarginatus | Bolson Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Graptemys spp. | Map Turtles – All | Appendix III (USA) |
| Hardella thurjii | Crowned River Turtle | Appendix II |
| Heosemys annandalii | Yellow-Headed Temple Turtle | Appendix II |
| Heosemys depressa | Arakan Forest Turtle | Appendix II |
| Heosemys grandis | Giant Asian Pond Turtle | Appendix II |
| Heosemys spinosa | Spiny Turtle | Appendix II |
| Lepidochelys kempii | Kemp’s Ridley Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Lepidochelys olivacea | Olive Ridley Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Leucocephalon yuwonoi | Sulawesi Forest Turtle | Appendix II |
| Lissemys ceylonensis | Sri Lankan Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Lissemys punctata | Indian Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Lissemys scutata | Burmese Flapshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Macrochelys temminickii | Alligator Snapping Turtle | Appendix III (USA) |
| Malaclemys terrapin | Diamondback Terrapin | Appendix II |
| Malacochersus tornieri | Pancake Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Malayemys macrocephela | Malayan Snail-Eating Turtle | Appendix II |
| Malayemys subtrijuga | Mekong Snail-Eating Turtle | Appendix II |
| Mauremys annamensis | Vietnamese/Annam Pond Turtle | Appendix I |
| Mauremys iversoni (Hybrid) | Iverson’s Hybrid | Appendix III (China) |
| Mauremys japonica | Japanese Pond Turtle | Appendix II |
| Mauremys megalocephala | Chinese Broad-Headed Pond Turtle | Appendix III (China) |
| Mauremys mutica | Yellow Pond Turtle | Appendix II |
| Mauremys nigricans | Red-Necked Pond Turtle | Appendix II |
| Mauremys pritchardi (Hybrid) | Pritchard’s Hybrid | Appendix III (China) |
| Mauremys reevesii | Reeve’s/Chinese Pond Turtle | Appendix III (China) |
| Mauremys sinensis | Golden Thread Turtle | Appendix III (China) |
| Melanochelys tricarinata | Tricarinate Hill Turtle | Appendix I |
| Melanochelys trijuga | Indian Black Turtle | Appendix II |
| Morenia ocellata | Burmese Eyed Turtle | Appendix I |
| Morenia petersi | Indian Eyed Turtle | Appendix II |
| Natator depressus | Flatback Seaturtle | Appendix I |
| Nilssonia formosa | Burmese Peacock Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Nilssonia gangetica | Indian Softshell Turtle | Appendix I |
| Nilssonia hurum | Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle | Appendix I |
| Nilssonia leithii | Leith's Softshell | Appendix II |
| Nilssonia nigricans | Black Softshell Turtle | Appendix I |
| Notochelys platynota | Malayan Flat-Shelled Turtle | Appendix II |
| Ocadia glyphistoma (Hybrid) | Glyphistoma Hybrid | Appendix III (China) |
| Ocadia philippeni (Hybrid) | Philippen’s Hybrid | Appendix III (China) |
| Orlitia borneensis | Malaysian Giant Turtle | Appendix II |
| Palea steindachneri | Wattle-Necked Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Pangshura spp. | Pangshura – All not in Appendix I | Appendix II |
| Pangshura tecta | Indian Roofed/Indian Tent Turtle | Appendix I |
| Pelochelys spp. | Giant Softshells – All | Appendix II |
| Pelodiscus axenaria | Hunan Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Pelodiscus maackii | Northern Chinese Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Pelodiscus parviformis | Lesser Chinese Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Peltocephalus dumerilianus | Big-Headed Amazon River Turtle | Appendix II |
| Platysternidae ssp. | Big-Headed Turtles | Appendix I |
| Podocnemis spp. | Giant Amazon River Turtle | Appendix II |
| Psammobates geometricus | Geometric Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Pseudemydura umbrina | Western Swamp Turtle | Appendix I |
| Pyxis arachnoides | Spider Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Pyxis planicauda | Flat-Shelled Spider Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Rafetus euphraticus | Euphrates Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Rafetus swinhoei | Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Sacalia bealei | Beal’s Eyed Turtle | Appendix II |
| Sacalia pseudocellata (Hybrid) | False-Eyed Hybrid | Appendix III (China) |
| Sacalia quadriocellata | Four-Eyed Turtle | Appendix II |
| Siebenrockiella crassicollis | Black Marsh Turtle | Appendix II |
| Siebenrockiella leytensis | Palawan/Philipine Forest Turtle | Appendix II |
| Terrapene coahuila | Coahuilian Box Turtle | Appendix I |
| Terrapene spp. | Box Turtles – All not in Appendix I | Appendix II |
| Testudinae spp. | Tortoises – All not in Appendix I | Appendix II |
| Testudo kleinmanni | Egyptian Tortoise | Appendix I |
| Trionyx triunguis | Nile Softshell Turtle | Appendix II |
| Vijayachelys silvatica | Cochin Forest Cane Turtle | Appendix II |
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES):
Full Text .pdf of CITES (does not include listed species)
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 23 (application of CITES in the United States)
Sources:
- 50 CFR Pt. 23. 2021. Web. 1 Apr. 2021. https://www.ecfr.gov
- "Appendices I, II, and III". CITES Secretariat. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 2021. Web. 1 Apr. 2021. http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php
- CITES Secretariat. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 2021. Web. 1 Ap. 2021. http://www.cites.org
- Turtle Taxonomy Working Group [Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., Bour, R. Fritz, U., Georges, A., Shaffer, H.B., and van Dijk, P.P.]. 2017. Turtles of the World: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (8th Ed.). In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Iverson, J.B., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., Pritchard, P.C.H., and Mittermeier, R.A. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs 7:1-292. doi: 10.3854/crm.7.checklist.atlas.v8.2017, https://iucn-tftsg.org/checklist. Web. Dec. 2017.