Electronic permitting

Directed to Parties
15.54	Parties are encouraged to use the CITES Electronic Permitting Toolkit found on the CITES website to develop or update national electronic permitting systems.
*Directed to the Standing Committee*
15.55	The Standing Committee shall extend the mandate of its Working Group on Information Technologies and Electronic Systems in order for it to perform the following tasks:
	a)	gather information from Parties and relevant organizations and initiatives on new developments related to electronic permitting systems, and submit such information to the Secretariat for possible inclusion in the toolkit;
	b)	collaborate with the Secretariat in updating the toolkit with new information related to the use of common information exchange formats, protocols and standards and electronic signatures;
	c)	promote the development and use of electronic permitting systems among Parties;
	d)	examine how electronic permitting can contribute to ensuring legal electronic commerce in specimens of CITES-listed species;
	e)	invite relevant organizations with knowledge about electronic permitting systems to join the Working Group; and
	f)	report to the Standing Committee at its regular meetings on the results of its work.
*Directed to the Secretariat*
15.56	In collaboration with the Working Group on Information Technologies and Electronic Systems, the Secretariat shall, subject to external funding:
	a)	update the CITES electronic toolkit according to new electronic permitting standards and norms;
	b)	work with relevant international organizations and initiatives related to electronic permitting systems to raise awareness of CITES business procedures and permitting requirements; and
	c)	organize capacity-building workshops to assist Parties in using the CITES electronic permitting toolkit to develop, implement or update electronic permitting systems.