CITES & Travelling with ParrotsCanadian Parrot Conference 2015

Lise JubinvilleCanadian Wildlife ServiceEnvironment CanadaNovember 15, 2015

Purpose

Provide high-level overview of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of fauna and flora (CITES).

Explain how CITES works for parrots – permits, expectations for supporting documentation, breeding in captivity.

Other regulations or country restrictions that impact cross-border travel.

Outline

CITES Overview

CITES Permit Procedures

CITES Permit Issuance

Other areas of concern for travel

1

2

3

4

What is CITES?

CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

International agreement, established in 1973, with over 180 member countries.

CITES establishes a legal framework with common procedural mechanisms to regulate international trade.

The intent is to ensure that international trade of specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

National legislation is required in each country to implement the provisions of CITES provisions.1

- C

ITE

S O

verv

iew

How CITES works in Canada

The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) & Wild Animal and Plant

Trade Regulations (WAPTR) are the legislative instruments with which Canada has implemented CITES.

Environment Canada (EC) is the lead agency responsible for implementing CITES in Canada.

Within EC, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS)  administers CITES and interacts with provincial, territorial and other federal agencies.

CWS is responsible for managing the species listings in Canada and interacting with the international community.

1 -

CIT

ES

Ove

rvie

w

The Roles within CITES

• Accountable for permitting decisions• Manage, plan, develop and coordinate implementation of

CITES• Implementation coordination with other parties

Management Authority (MA)

• Scientific determinations on risk to species survival• Scientific advice to MA• Species listings analysis and recommendation

Scientific Authority (SA)

• Enforces provisions of WAPPRIITA • Investigates and coordinates investigations with other

agencies • Provides wildlife identification expertise and develops

identification manuals

Enforcement Authority (EA)

1 -

CIT

ES

Ove

rvie

w

CITES Species Listings

The over 35,000 CITES-listed species are divided into 3 categories:

• Appendix I • Species which are threatened with extinction (e.g. yellow-headed

amazon, military macaw). • International trade is generally PROHIBITED.

• Appendix II • Species not necessarily threatened with extinction but trade must

be controlled to avoid becoming threatened (e.g. red&green macaw, black-cheeked lovebird).

• International trade is REGULATED.• Appendix III • Species for which a country is asking Parties’ help with protection

(e.g. walrus, aardwolf). • International trade is MONITORED.

1 -

CIT

ES

Ove

rvie

w

CITES & Parrots

All Psittaciformes, which includes over 350 species of Parrots, Parakeets, Macaws, Cockatoos, are listed in CITES with the following exceptions:

– Rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)– Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)– Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)– Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Most of the Psittaciformes are listed in Appendix II, with the some of the species in Appendix I.

1 -

CIT

ES

Ove

rvie

w

CITES Permits Required

Relocation of an Appendix I species• CITES permit issued by the

exporting country• CITES permit issued by the

importing country• Import permit must be obtained

before the export permit.

Relocation of an Appendix II species• CITES permit issued by the

exporting country

Frequent cross-border movement of personally owned pets (any Appendix)• Simplified procedure using a

CITES Certificate of Ownership (aka Pet Passport)

2 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Pro

ced

ure

s

CITES Permit Decision Making

A permit is granted when the following conditions are verified:

1. The export or import will not be detrimental to the survival of that species.

2. Specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of the country.

3. Any living specimen will be prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.

4. The proposed recipient of a living specimen is suitably equipped to house and care for it.

5. In the case of Appendix I species, the specimen will not be used for commercial purposes.

2 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Pro

ced

ure

s

Which CITES permits do I need?

If your home base is Canada and you are visiting other countries:

A certificate of ownership (Pet Passport) – valid for 3 years.http://www.ec.gc.ca/cites/default.asp?lang=En&n=05BFDC16-1

If you are moving a parrot to another country or importing a parrot from another country:

Export and possibly import permits will be required.http://www.ec.gc.ca/cites/default.asp?lang=En&n=C448F589-1

Determine the Appendix listing of the bird.

1. Obtain the scientific name of the species.

2. Use the CITES checklist to find the Appendix listing.

Appendix I = export + import permits

Appendix II = export permit

You need the permits BEFORE you cross the border!2 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Pro

ced

ure

s

CITES Checklist Lookup (sample)

2 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Pro

ced

ure

s

Page 13

Requesting a CITES permit

Canada has national standardized application forms for requesting CITES permits.

• Categories of applications - Live animals, Harvested animal, Plants, Ginseng, Pet Passport, etc.

• http://www.ec.gc.ca/cites/default.asp?lang=en&n=05BFDC16-1 (www.cites.ec.gc.ca>Permits> Permit Application Forms)

• Instruction sheets are provided to help understand how to fill out the forms.

• Applications submitted via email, fax or regular mail.

A CITES permit is granted following the assessment of the information provided in the application PLUS the required supporting documents.

3 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Issu

ance

Page 14

The completed, signed application form must address the following:– Details of the parties involved

▪ Permittee – who is sending (for export) or receiving (on import) the specimen? ▪ Consignee – who is receiving (for export) or sending (on import) the specimen?▪ Other country involved in the transaction – where is the specimen going to or coming

from?

– Purpose of the transaction▪ Why is this specimen being moved across a border?

– Details of the species/specimens – identification▪ What is being moved across a border?

– Legality▪ How did the permittee obtain the specimen? - ownership/acquisition▪ Where does the specimen come from? - origin/source/age

– Details on transportation/housing/care ▪ Necessary for live animals or plants

Information required for permit request3

- C

ITE

S P

erm

it Is

suan

ce

Page 15

• Proof of ownership/acquisition– Invoice or purchase receipt– Transfer of ownership – Microchip or banding certificate– Foreign CITES permits

• Proof of origin (source of specimen)– Foreign CITES export permit– Genealogy of specimen, with records of ancestry’s provenance– Breeder information– Hatch certificate

• Housing and Care– Diagrams or descriptions of facilities, including winter care– Feeding and veterinary care– Experience with same or similar species

• Transportation– International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards for air travel– CITES guidelines for the non-air transport of live animals and plants

Supporting Documents Needed for Substantiating Request

3 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Issu

ance

Page 16

CITES Permit Sample3

- C

ITE

S P

erm

it Is

suan

ce

• Import and export permits as well as certificates of ownership all share same format.

• Top right corner indicates the document type.

Page 17

Cross-Border Movement Sheet for the Certificate of Ownership

• Used for the endorsement by Customs.

• Records all the exits and entries of the items.

• Similar to having your passport stamped when you travel.

3 -

CIT

ES

Per

mit

Issu

ance

Page 18

Health of Animals4

– O

ther

Are

as o

f C

on

cern

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates the entry and exit of live animals and plants. http://www.inspection.gc.ca

• Consult them before you cross the border. They may also help identify the requirements from other countries.

Page 19

The US and their Requirements4

– O

ther

Are

as o

f C

on

cern US Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA)

The US WBCA was enacted in October 1992 to ensure that exotic bird species are not harmed by international trade and encourage wild bird conservation programs in countries of origin. It is additional legislation above and beyond CITES.http://www.fws.gov/international/travel-and-trade/traveling-with-your-pet-bird.html

Page 20

The US Requirements - continued4

– O

ther

Are

as o

f C

on

cern Crossing the US border – Inspection and Fees

• Wildlife imported into or exported from the United States for any purpose must be declared to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and cleared prior to release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

• The USFWS has a system of ports to allow for the import and export of wildlife. These ports are used for all movement of wildlife, including for commercial, non-commercial, scientific, or personal purposes. Certain port locations are designated to allow the international movement of any lawful wildlife, while other locations are restricted to allow only certain types of wildlife for certain purposes.

• Fees will be charged by the US, final cost depends on the port.

http://www.fws.gov/le/businesses.html

Sample from fee chart

Page 21

New CITES posters available from CWSC

ITE

S A

war

enes

s an

d I

nfo

rmat

ion

Page 22

Resources for CITES information

Consult the website of the CITES Secretariat (definitive source of info on CITES) - www.cites.org.

Find contact information for CITES offices in other countries.

Lookup species on the Checklist of CITES Species -http://checklist.cites.org/#/en.

Consult the Canadian CITES website - www.cites.ca.

Email the Canadian CITES office - cites@ec.gc.ca.

Call the Canadian CITES office - 1 855 869 8670.

CIT

ES

Aw

aren

ess

and

In

form

atio

n

Page 23

Cheat Sheet for filling out Pet Passport Application

Please excuse this old form with many bizarre and extraneous fields. This form is next on the list for modernization.

Section 1 – Application type = new application, renewal of an expired permit or replacement of an existing permit.

Section 2 – Trade Type – IGNORE

Section 3 – Name and AddressA. Applicant = owner of the petB. Destination – IGNORE

Section 4 - Purpose = reason for travelling with the pet (vacation, exhibitions/shows, living part-time in another country, other)

Section 5 - Description = tell us about your bird

Ad

den

du

m A

Page 24

Cheat Sheet for filling out Pet Passport Application

Continuing…. Section 6 – Origin and Legality = tell us where you got your bird

From the wild? From a breeding operation? Other? Attach copies of documents proving your story

Section 7 – Transport = tell us how you will be transporting your pet safely and humanely

You can ignore the question about the number of crossings – it is irrelevant

Section 8 – Location of specimen – should be Canada, since you shouldn’t be asking for this document when you are stuck elsewhere!

Ad

den

du

m A