Implementing the outcomes of CoP16

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of the results of the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We have attempted to identify changes to the CITES Appendices and other outcomes  that would have the greatest impact on the U.S. public and developed information to assist those who may be affected.  Please refer to the CITES Secretariat for the complete list of Appendices, Resolutions, and Decisions that are in effect from June 12, 2013.

If you are a U.S consumer or international traveler, please refer to our Travel & Trade guidelines for more information on the laws that govern trade in wildlife and wildlife products.

Please note: The oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, three species of hammerhead sharks (scalloped, great, and smooth) and manta rays were included in CITES Appendix II at CoP16.  Implementation of their listings was delayed by 18-months and will become effective on September 14, 2014.

U.S. Importers/Re-Exporters of Rosewood and Ebony

Several species of rosewood and ebony were added to CITES Appendix II to ensure that international commercial trade is conducted in a legal and sustainable manner. These Appendix-II listings are NOT a ban on trade. To conduct international commercial trade in listed species, you will need to ensure that you have obtained the proper CITES documentation from the exporting or re-exporting country. The table below outlines the rosewood and ebony species added to CITES Appendix II at CoP16. Click here to learn more about each of these listings.

If you have any questions regarding the import/re-export of these species, please contact the Division of Management Authority at managementauthority@fws.gov.

CITES-listed rosewood (Dalbergia spp.) and ebony (Diospyros spp.)
Taxa	Material covered under Appendix-II
Madagascan  Dalbergia spp. and Diospyros spp.	Logs, sawn wood, and veneer sheets
Dalbergia retusa	Logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and plywood
Dalbergia retusa	Logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and plywood
Dalbergia stevensonii	Logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and plywood
Dalbergia cochinchinensis	Logs, sawn wood, and veneer sheets
Dalbergia granadillo	Logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and plywood

Musicians Traveling Across International Borders

To ease the paperwork burden on musicians traveling with musical instruments made from CITES-listed species, the United States put forward a proposal at CoP16 to implement a passport program that would facilitate the frequent non-commercial, cross-border movement of musical instruments for purposes including, but not limited to, personal use, performance, display, and competition with the issuance of just one document.

Musical instruments may contain parts or products of species protected under CITES and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). If you are traveling with a musical instrument that contains Brazilian rosewood, elephant ivory, tortoiseshell, or another protected species, you will need to obtain proper legal documentation before crossing international borders. Please refer to our Musical Instruments page for more information.

If you have any questions about traveling with your musical instrument, please contact the Division of Management Authority at managementauthority@fws.gov.

Watch the on-demand webinar
Experts from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service participated in an interactive webinar, hosted by the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians, The Recording Academy, and National Association of Music Merchants to provide information on the laws and regulations that govern international trade in protected species and to help musicians and manufacturers comply with them.

U.S. Reptile Importers/Exporters and Pet Hobbyists

Forty-four species of Asian freshwater turtles and tortoises and three species of North American pond turtles received increased protections at CoP16. The following table outlines the changes to the CITES Appendices.  For Appendix-II species, you will need to ensure that you have obtained the proper CITES documentation to conduct international commercial trade. International trade for primarily commercial purposes is effectively prohibited for Appendix-I listed species.

These listings will have little effect on the average hobbyist or pet owner. If you do plan to travel internationally with your pet, please refer to the Service’s website on “personal pets.” However, as a pet owner and consumer you should make sure that you always purchase reptiles and amphibians from a reputable seller/breeder/dealer. Ask questions. Where did the animals come from? Were the animals legally acquired? If the juveniles are captive bred were the parents legally acquired? Be an informed consumer and help ensure that trade is legal and sustainable.

If you have any questions regarding the required CITES documentation for these species, please contact the Division of Management Authority at managementauthority@fws.gov.

APPENDIX I	APPENDIX II
North American Turtle Species
None added	Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
	Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)
	Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)
Asian Turtle/Tortoise Species
Burmese star tortoise  (Geochelone platynota)	Malayan Softshelled turtle (Dogania subplana)
Big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum)	Leith's Softshell turtle (Nilssonia leithii)
Asian Narrowheaded Softshell (Chitra chitra)	Burmese Peacock Softshell turtle (Nilssonia formosa)
Burmese Narrowheaded Softshell (Chitra vandijki)	Wattlenecked Softshell turtle (Palea steindachneri)
	Hunan Softshell turtle (Pelodiscus axenaria)
	Northern Chinese Softshell turtle (Pelodiscus maackii)
	Lesser Chinese Softshell turtle (Pelodiscus parviformis)
	Swinhoe's Giant Softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei)
	Japanese Pond turtle (Mauremys japonica)
	Red-necked Pond turtle (Mauremys nigricans)
	Indian Black turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)
	Indian Eyed turtle (Morenia petersi)
	Beal’s Eyed turtle (Sacalia bealei)
	Four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata)
	Cochin Forest Cane turtle (Vijayachelys silvatica)
	Western Blackbridged Leaf turtle (Cyclemys atripons)
	Asian Leaf turtle (Cyclemys dentate)
	Cyclemys shanensis
	Southeast Asian Leaf turtle (Cyclemys oldhamii)
	Eastern Blackbridged Leaf turtle (Cyclemys pulchristriata)
	Ryukyu Blackbreasted Leaf turtle (Geoemyda japonica)
	Black-breasted Hill turtle (Geoemyda spengleri)
	Crowned River turtle (Hardella thurjii)