National laws for implementing CITES is critical to ensure that trade in protected species is legal, sustainable and traceable. Legislation empowers government officials to act, regulates human behaviour and articulates policy in relation to conservation of and international trade in wildlife.
Although CITES is legally binding on States it is generally not self-executing. This means that it cannot be fully implemented until specific domestic measures have been adopted for that purpose. It is therefore essential that CITES Parties have legislation in place allowing them to implement and enforce all aspects of the Convention.
Only through adequate legislation which is permanently up to date and efficiently enforced, both at the borders and within countries, can CITES really work. Adequate national legislation is key to effective wildlife trade controls by the State agencies charged with implementing and enforcing the Convention. It is also a vital prerequisite for ensuring that a State Party complies with the provisions of the Convention.
Resolutions and Decisions
Reports and Notifications by the CITES Secretariat
- CITES Secretariat report to the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19)
- CITES Secretariat report to the 74th meeting of the Standing Committee
- CITES Secretariat update on progress to the Standing Committee (Oct. 2020)
- CITES Secretariat report to the 71st meeting of the Standing Committee
- CITES Secretariat report to CoP18
- CITES Secretariat report to the 70th meeting of the Standing Committee
- CITES Secretariat report to the 69th meeting of the Standing Committee
- Notification 2016/066
- CITES Secretariat Report to CoP17
- CITES Secretariat report to the 67th meeting of the Standing Committee
National Legislation Project
The National Legislation Project (NLP) is the Convention’s primary mechanism for encouraging and assisting Parties’ legislative efforts. National legislation is to meet the CITES minimum requirements to national legislation as expressed in Resolution Conf. 8.4 (Rev. CoP15).
Parties' national legislation for the implementation of the Convention should provide them with the authority to
i. designate at least one Management Authority and one Scientific Authority
ii. prohibit trade in specimens in violation of the Convention;
iii. penalize such trade: and
iv. confiscate specimens illegally traded or possessed.
The legislation is placed in one of three categories.
Legislative status
Legislative guidance materials
It is the prerogative of each Party to decide how it incorporates CITES obligations into national legislation, taking into account its needs and legal practice. The provisions of the Convention and Resolution Conf. 8.4 (Rev. CoP15) only provide a broad framework,
List of materials
- Revised draft model law (2021) (English) (French) (Spanish) (Portuguese)
- Draft model law (Arabic) (Russian)
- Legislative checklist (CoP14 version) (English) (French) (Spanish)
- Standard training presentations
- CITES guidelines on the minimum requirements for national legislation - Questionnaire for Legal drafters
- Format for the national legislative analysis
- UNODC Guide on drafting legislation to combat wildlife crime
Targeted support to Parties
Pursuant to CITES resolutions and decisions, the CITES Secretariat provides assistance to priority countries and territories, upon their request, to enhance their legislation. This includes the provision of targeted legal advice on the basic legislative requirements, compilation of examples of best legislation, drafting support and organization of training workshops.
Since CoP17, the CITES Secretariat has provided individualized technical assistance to a number of Parties, including Angola, Benin, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Lao PDR, Mauritania, Niger and Saint Lucia. Detailed requests for assistance from Parties with legislation in Category 2 or 3 can be addressed to the CITES Secretariat.
Examples of CITES national legislation
The following CITES laws and regulations are provided as examples and inspiration to Parties that are preparing or amending their CITES legislation. They have been placed in Category 1 under the National Legislation Project. More examples are being added to this list.
For more CITES related legislation as well as court decisions and other materials, please visit ECOLEX or InforMEA
Other guidance and support
CITES Virtual College features training materials on specific aspects of the Conventions, such as role and tasks of Management Authorities and Scientific Authorities, important CITES definitions, permits and certificates, exemptions and special procedures etc.