QUICK NOTE ON CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES)

In order to regulate international trade in endangered species of Wild Life, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) was signed in March 1973, which was initially called as Washington Convention. The Government of India signed the Convention in July 1976, and the same got ratified in October 1976. The Director, Wild Life Preservation has been designated as the CITES Management Authority for India. CITES has three Appendices I, II and III, where in the international trade of the species listed in Appendix I is done only with CITES Permits of both exporting and importing countries. Trade of species listed in Appendix II is monitored through CITES permits issued by exporting countries. Appendix III provides Appendix I status for only proposing countries.

The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) was set up in 2007, which is acting as the CITES Enforcement Agency in India to combat international illegal trade in wildlife. The Wildlife Institute of India, Botanical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India, CMFRI and IFGTB are designated as Scientific Institutes of CITES in India. Soon, an amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 is also proposed for integrating the provisions of CITES in the national law of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for effective implementation of the Convention. The enforcement of the provisions of CITES is carried out by the Regional Deputy Directors, Wild Life Crime Control Bureau, who have also been designated as the Assistant CITES Management Authority for India. Apart from the Regional Deputy Directors, the Customs Authorities, State Forest Departments are also involved in the enforcement of the Convention. 

An amendment to the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 has been proposed for integrating the provisions of CITES in the national law for effective implementation of the Convention. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has also constituted a CITES Cell on 10th September 2010 to assist the Government of India in CITES implementation. India has taken several initiatives in recent years at national level to build capacity for better CITES implementation in the country.

The 17^th meeting of Conference of Parties of CITES is going to be held from 24^th September to 5^th October 2016 at Johannesburg, South Africa.  On 27^th April 2016, India submitted the following proposals for amending the Appendices of CITES. The below proposals were  discussed and were accepted by 17^th COP:

a.      India along with USA has submitted a proposal for up listing Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES;

b.  Supported the proposals of USA and Viet Nam for up listing of Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES;

c.    Supported the proposals of USA and Viet Nam for up listing of Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES;

d.      Submitted a proposal along with USA for listing Chambered nautilus (Nautilus spp) on Appendix II of CITES;

e.      Supported the proposal of Maldives for listing Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) on Appendix II of CITES; and

f.    Supported the proposal of Sri Lanka for listing of three Thresher Sharks Bigeye Thresher Sharks (Alopias superciliosus), Common Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) and Pelagic Thresher Shark (Alopias pelagicus) on Appendix II of CITES.