Information for NGOs requesting approval to attend the 58th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) wishing to attend the 58th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC58), which will be held July 6-10, 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland, must request approval from the CITES Secretariat to attend the meeting.  In accordance with Rule 6 of the Standing Committee Rules of Procedure, any person or body wishing to participate in a meeting of the Committee as an observer must submit the Registration form to the Secretariat at least 30 days before the meeting (for SC58, that date is June 6, 2009).  In addition to submitting the Registration form, prospective observers must provide relevant information with regard to their technical qualifications and proof of approval of the State in which the organization or individual is located.  Prospective observers located in the United States must submit a request for observer approval to the Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the following address: 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203; fax: 703-358-2298; email: craig_hoover@fws.gov.  Additionally, all participants will be required to present official credentials to attend the meeting.  Credentials may be submitted to the Secretariat in advance or on the first day of attendance at the meeting.

See CITES Notification 2009/014 dated April 17, 2009, at www.cites.org for more information on the meeting.  An agenda and working documents will also be posted on the CITES website before the meeting.

For further information on the 58th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee, please go the CITES Secretariat Website.