No. 900                                   Geneva, 28 February 1996


CONCERNING:


Endorsement of CITES Permits and Certificates at the Time of Expor
t


1.Article  VI of the Convention requires export permits to contain
  the  information specified in the model set out in Appendix  IV.
  This  model  provides for the endorsement of the permit  by  the
  inspecting authorities at the time of export.

2.Annex  1 of Resolution Conf. 9.3 indicates the information  that
  should  be included in CITES permits and certificates, including
  "The  actual  quantity of specimens exported, certified  by  the
  stamp  or  seal and signature of the authority that carried  out
  the inspection at the time of the exportation".

3.Several exporting Parties have informed the Secretariat that any
  permit  or certificate from their country that does not  include
  the  certification  referred to in paragraph  2  above  must  be
  refused.  Several  importing Parties have complained  that  they
  have  received documents that have not been endorsed  but  whose
  validity has been confirmed by the issuing authority.

4.At  the  request of several Parties, the Secretariat intends  to
  prepare  a list of Parties from which any document that  is  not
  endorsed  by Customs (or another competent authority) should  be
  refused.

5.The  Secretariat would therefore appreciate it  if  the  Parties
  could  complete the attached questionnaire and return it  before
  31 March 1996.

6.The  Parties  are  requested to notify the  Secretariat  of  any
  change   that  occurs  in  the  information  provided   in   the
  questionnaire.

7.The   Secretariat   will  report  on  the   response   to   this
  questionnaire  by means of a notification before 30  April  1996
  and will provide updated information as necessary.
                          QUESTIONNAIRE

  (to be returned to the CITES Secretariat before 31 March 1996)




Name of country:


Do you recommend that other Parties refuse to accept permits
or  certificates that are not endorsed at the time of export?  YES
*                                                  NO *

If no, please explain why:






Which  governmental  agency  is  responsible  for  endorsement  of
permits and certificates at the time of export:
+ Customs?                                         YES *      NO *

+ Other agency (if so give the name below)?        YES *      NO *




Additional information:








                            Date:







                       Signature:





* Delete as appropriate