Importing Endangered Species ProductsThe Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement that protects endangered species and regulates their import and export from participating countries. This includes specimens of any regulated species, alive or dead, whole or in parts, and any product made from a regulated species. If you are planning to import plant or animal products that might be regulated, it’s a good idea to find out in advance what the import requirements will be.
Some examples of CITES-regulated products include:
- A crocodile leather handbag;
- A piano with elephant ivory keys;
- A live African Grey parrot;
- A taxidermied zebra hunting trophy;
- A table made from Mongolian oak.
CITES categorizes species in three appendices, and import requirements are based on which appendix a species falls under.
You can find out what appendix your goods will be classified in on the online Cites Checklist. In the search bar at the top left of the Cites Checklist page, you can search for the species you want to import. You’ll get the best results from using the scientific name of the species. If no search results are returned, the species is not considered endangered or regulated in Canada. If an entry for your species comes up, it will show you what appendix that species falls under: there will be a blue circle with an “I”, a green circle with an “II”, or an orange circle with an “III”. You can also see which other countries regulate the species.
Species in appendix 1 are the most tightly regulated. This appendix includes species that are threatened with extinction, and trade in these species is not usually permitted. Exceptions may be made, for example, for specimens for scientific research, or for specimens that predate the CITES convention. To be imported into Canada, appendix 1 species must be accompanied by both a Canadian CITES import permit and a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.
Species in appendix 2 are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but their trade is still controlled to protect the species. To be imported into Canada, appendix 2 species must be accompanied by a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.
Species in appendix 3 are protected in another country that has asked Canada for help in monitoring its trade, but not necessarily protected in Canada. To be imported into Canada, if a specimen of an appendix 3 species is coming from the country that requested help in monitoring the species, it must be accompanied by a CITES export permit from that country. If the specimen is coming from another country, it must be accompanied by either a CITES certificate of origin or a CITES re-export certificate.
CITES shipments are usually required to be presented to customs as paper packages, rather than digital entries. Original CITES export certificates are sometimes required to travel with the package. If that is the case, it may be necessary to have an agent of your customs broker retrieve the original certificate in order to present it to CBSA. Be aware that these services may incur additional charges.
To apply for a permit to bring CITES regulated products into Canada, you can download an application form online and submit it to CITES Canada at cites@ec.gc.ca. More information about importing CITES species is available online from Environment and Climate Change Canada, or you can get in touch with your friendly local customs broker.
By Robin Smith, M.A., CCS. – Robin is a trade industry professional based in Victoria, BC.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement that protects endangered species and regulates their import and export from participating countries. This includes specimens of any regulated species, alive or dead, whole or in parts, and any product made from a regulated species. If you are planning to import plant or animal products that might be regulated, it’s a good idea to find out in advance what the import requirements will be.
Some examples of CITES-regulated products include:
- A crocodile leather handbag;
- A piano with elephant ivory keys;
- A live African Grey parrot;
- A taxidermied zebra hunting trophy;
- A table made from Mongolian oak.
CITES categorizes species in three appendices, and import requirements are based on which appendix a species falls under.
You can find out what appendix your goods will be classified in on the online Cites Checklist. In the search bar at the top left of the Cites Checklist page, you can search for the species you want to import. You’ll get the best results from using the scientific name of the species. If no search results are returned, the species is not considered endangered or regulated in Canada. If an entry for your species comes up, it will show you what appendix that species falls under: there will be a blue circle with an “I”, a green circle with an “II”, or an orange circle with an “III”. You can also see which other countries regulate the species.
Species in appendix 1 are the most tightly regulated. This appendix includes species that are threatened with extinction, and trade in these species is not usually permitted. Exceptions may be made, for example, for specimens for scientific research, or for specimens that predate the CITES convention. To be imported into Canada, appendix 1 species must be accompanied by both a Canadian CITES import permit and a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.
Species in appendix 2 are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but their trade is still controlled to protect the species. To be imported into Canada, appendix 2 species must be accompanied by a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.
Species in appendix 3 are protected in another country that has asked Canada for help in monitoring its trade, but not necessarily protected in Canada. To be imported into Canada, if a specimen of an appendix 3 species is coming from the country that requested help in monitoring the species, it must be accompanied by a CITES export permit from that country. If the specimen is coming from another country, it must be accompanied by either a CITES certificate of origin or a CITES re-export certificate.
CITES shipments are usually required to be presented to customs as paper packages, rather than digital entries. Original CITES export certificates are sometimes required to travel with the package. If that is the case, it may be necessary to have an agent of your customs broker retrieve the original certificate in order to present it to CBSA. Be aware that these services may incur additional charges.
To apply for a permit to bring CITES regulated products into Canada, you can download an application form online and submit it to CITES Canada at cites@ec.gc.ca. More information about importing CITES species is available online from Environment and Climate Change Canada, or you can get in touch with your friendly local customs broker.
By Robin Smith, M.A., CCS. – Robin is a trade industry professional based in Victoria, BC.
