Guidelines for transport

and preparation for shipment of live wild animals and plants

The 'Guidelines for transport and preparation for shipment of live wild animals and plants' were adopted by the Conference of the Parties to CITES at its second meeting (San José, 1979).
 
In Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP14), on Transport of live specimens, the Conference of the Parties recommends inter alia that:
   
a) suitable measures be taken by the Parties to promote the full and effective use by Management Authorities of the Live Animals Regulations (for animals) and the Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants) for the preparation and transport of live specimens and that they be brought to the attention of exporters, importers, transport companies, carriers, freight forwarders, inspection authorities and international organizations and conferences competent to regulate conditions of carriage by air, land and sea or inland waterways;
   
b) Parties invite the above organizations and institutions to comment on and amplify the Live Animals Regulations (for animals) and the Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants), so as to promote their effectiveness;
   
and that:
   
d) for as long as the CITES Secretariat and the Standing Committee agree, the Live Animals Regulations (for animals) and the Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants) be deemed to meet CITES air transport requirements;
   
e) where appropriate, the Live Animals Regulations (for animals) and the Perishable Cargo Regulations (for plants) be used as a reference to indicate suitable conditions for carriage by means other than air...
   
These Guidelines can be viewed in the separate sections below or downloaded as one single PDF file (2.9 MB). In the hope that the Guidelines can be improved, the Secretariat would welcome comments, which should be addressed to the Scientific Support.
   
   
INTRODUCTION
   
ADVICE TO CARRIERS
   
PACKER'S GUIDELINES
  Mm/1 Terrestrial mammals except elephants and ungulates
  Mm/2 Terrestrial mammals – Elephants and ungulates
  Mm/3 Sloths, bats, flying lemurs
  Mm/4 Marine mammals – Whales, dolphins, porpoises, dugongs, manatees
  Mm/5 Marine mammals – Seals
  Mm/6 Mice, rats, cavies and other small mammals
  Av/1 Water birds and large birds of non-perching habit
  Av/2 Parrots, pigeons, passerines, near passerines
  Av/3 Birds of prey and owls
  Rp/1 Freshwater terrapins and turtles, marine turtles
  Rp/2 Crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gavials
  Rp/3 Tortoises and land turtles, snakes, lizards
  Aph/1 Amphibians, aquatic forms
  Aph/2 Amphibians, terrestrial forms
  Ps/1 Fishes, except those species that cannot be contained in polythene bags
  Ps/2 Fishes that would damage polythene bags
  Inv/1 Aquatic invertebrates
  Inv/2 Terrestrial invertebrates
   
GUIDELINES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF LIVE PLANT SPECIMENS

 

Parties should also note that the two publications by IATA Live Animals Regulations and Perishable Cargo Manual may be ordered from this website.

Note

In compliance with Resolution Conf. 10.21 (Rev. CoP14), the CITES Animals Committee conducts a systematic review of the scope and causes of the mortality and injury or damage to health of animals during the shipment and transport process and of means of reducing such mortality and injury or damage to health. “Transport of live specimens” is consequently a standing agenda item at meetings of the Animals Committee.