E-commerce of CITES-listed species

At its 15th meeting (Doha, 2010), the Conference of the Parties adopted Decision 15.58 where it directs the Secretariat to:

Develop an Internet portal on the CITES website to compile, publish and disseminate information submitted by Parties and stakeholders related to e-commerce of CITES-listed species.

In Decision 15.57, Parties are urged to:

a) submit information to the CITES Secretariat on best practices and on websites adhering to codes of conduct for posting on the CITES website;
b) publish results of scientific research on correlations between use of the Internet and the rate of wildlife crime, and share these results with the CITES Secretariat;
c) assess the extent of and trends in commerce of CITES-listed species via the Internet and submit such information to the Secretariat for analysis; and
d) submit information to the CITES Secretariat for analysis on any changes in trade routes and methods of shipment that have been observed as a result of increased use of the Internet to promote trade in wildlife.

The Secretariat will accept documentation in PDF (Portable Document Format) or Microsoft Word (2003, 2007 or 2010).

See also Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP15) for more information on recommendations related to e-commerce of specimens of CITES-listed species.

Working group on e-commerce of specimens of CITES-listed species

The Standing Committee, at its 58th meeting (Geneva, 2009), established a working group on e-commerce of specimens of CITES-listed species comprising Australia, Cameroon, Canada, China, France, Germany, Kenya, Peru, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, the European Community, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Humane Society International, IWMC – World Conservation Trust, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), TRAFFIC, VC International and the Secretariat.

The Working Group on E-commerce of Specimens of CITES-Listed Species was directed to:

a) collaborate with the Secretariat to amend Resolution Conf. 11.3 (Rev. CoP14);
b) collaborate with the Secretariat to develop the toolkit containing guidelines on legal commerce in
specimens of CITES-listed species via the Internet;
c) receive feedback from Parties regarding the effectiveness of the implementation of toolkit
recommendations; and
d) discuss other issues related to e-commerce and report at the 61st meeting of the Committee.

The United Kingdom accepted to chair the Working Group. Information on the current membership is available here.

Toolkit on e-commerce of specimens of CITES-listed species

The Standing Committee, at its 58th meeting (Geneva, 2009), directed the Secretariat to develop a toolkit, subject to the availability of funding, in order to assist Parties and the general CITES community with the regulation of legal trade in specimens of CITES-listed species via the Internet.

The Government of Canada has graciously offered to assist the Secretariat in the development of the Toolkit.