Back to CITES Home
<< Notifications of 1999

Notification to the Parties

No. 1999/70 Geneva, 30 September 1999

CONCERNING:

Exchange of confidential information

1. The Secretariat is aware that a number of Parties have national policies or national legislation relating to 'freedom of information', which entitles the public to gain ready access to their correspondence.

2. Consequently, the Secretariat requests the Management Authorities of the Parties to inform it if their laws or practices prevent them from being able to guarantee the confidentiality of sensitive information that is being sent to them for enforcement purposes. In the case where a Management Authority can not guarantee confidentiality, the Secretariat requests that it be authorized to make direct contact with the relevant enforcement agencies and be provided with details of those agencies.