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CITES in the United States |
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES; www.cites.org) is a multinational agreement that entered into force in 1975 to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Under this treaty, countries work together to ensure that international trade in animal and plant species is not detrimental to the survival of wild populations by regulating the import, export, re-export, and introduction from the sea of certain animal and plant species. The goal is to ensure that any trade in protected plant and animal species is sustainable, based on sound biological understanding and principles. Species for which trade is controlled are listed in one of three Appendices to CITES, based on a vote of the Parties. The more than 170 Parties to CITES are divided into six regions: Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America and Oceania. Several regular international meetings are convened to execute this treaty (click on Official Meetings to learn more.) The United States became a Party to CITES in 1975 and is part of the North American Region, which also includes Canada and Mexico. In the United States, CITES is implemented through the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). Passed in 1973, this law was set forth to prevent the extinction of native and foreign animals and plants by providing measures to help alleviate the loss of species and their habitats. Under this law, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce were given the joint responsibility for determining whether to place animals and plants on the Federal list of endangered and threatened species and for taking measures to protect and conserve the listed species. Section 8 of the ESA allows foreign species to be listed under the ESA. The Secretary of the Interior has delegated the Department’s responsibility to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In accordance with the Convention, FWS established a Scientific Authority and Management Authority to implement the treaty. FWS recently revised the regulations that implement CITES: 50 CFR Parts 10, 13, 17 - Revision of Regulations for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Final Rule Plant Rescue Centers To learn more about CITES in the United States, see these publications: Fact Sheets about CITES U.S. CITES Reports CITES World |