Articles III, IV, V and VII of the Convention require that the Management Authorities of the state of export be satisfied, before granting any permits, that live specimens will be so prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. Article VIII requires Parties to ensure that all living specimens pass through formalities with a minimum delay and that, during any period of transit, holding and shipment, are properly cared for so as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. Detailed regulations of transport of live animals and live plants are contained in: IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR), IATA perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR), and the CITES Guidelines for the non-air transport of live wild animals and plants (SC74), based on LAR and PCR.
Resolutions / Decisions
- Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP19) on Transport of live specimens
- Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP19) on permits and certificates
- Decisions 19.158-159 on Transport of live specimens
Resources
- MOU between CITES Secretariat and IATA
- The CITES Guidelines for the non-air transport of live animals and plants
(also available in Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese) - IATA provides a discount on the price if the code CITES2016 is used for the purchase of the publications. Questions, comments or suggestions regarding the Regulations or the Guidelines may be addressed to [email protected]
CITES online workshop on Transport of live specimens
CITES Secretariat organized an online workshop on Transport of live specimens in March 2024. The event was participated by about 200 participants. The presentations made at the event is available here.
Extracts from Resolution Conf. 10.21
Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP19) on Transport of live specimens recommends inter alia that:
a) suitable measures be taken by the Parties to promote the full and effective use by Management Authorities of the IATA Live Animals Regulations (for animals), the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants) and the CITES guidelines for the non-air transport of live wild animals and plants for the preparation and transport of live specimens and that they be brought to the attention of exporters, importers, transport companies, carriers, freight forwarders, inspection authorities and international organizations and conferences competent to regulate conditions of carriage by air, land and sea or inland waterways;
b) Parties invite the above organizations and institutions to comment on and amplify the IATA Live Animals Regulations (for animals) and the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants), so as to promote their effectiveness;
and that:
d) for as long as the CITES Secretariat and the Standing Committee agree, the IATA Live Animals Regulations (for animals), the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants) and the CITES guidelines for the non-air transport of live wild animals and plants in their most recent edition be deemed to meet CITES transport requirements;
e) the Standing Committee and the Secretariat, in consultation with the Animals and Plants Committees and IATA, regularly review, revise and approve amendments to the CITES guidelines for the non-air transport of live wild animals and plants;
f) the IATA Live Animals Regulations, the sections of the IATA Perishable Cargo Regulations related to the transport of live plant specimens and the CITES guidelines for the non-air transport of live wild animals and plants be incorporated into Parties’ domestic legislation or policies;