The Fish and Wildlife Service has made several amendments to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I and II, which deals with the import and export of wild animals and plants into and out of the US.
The majority of the amendments will take effect on Feb. 23, 2023. Any specimens of these species imported into, or exported from, the United States on or after February 23, 2023 will require CITES documentation issued in accordance with the adopted amendment.
Appendices I, II and IIIÂ are lists of species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation.
Appendix I lists species that are threatened with extinction. All commercial importing of the species on this list is prohibited. (Rare exceptions apply, such as for scientific research.)
Appendix II lists species that are not currently threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is closely controlled through permits and certifications.
Appendix III (which is unchanged in this amendment) is a list of species included at the request of a country that already regulates trade in the species and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation.
Species added in Appendix I
- Tiliqua adelaidensis (Adelaide scrub skink)
- Kinosternon cora (Cora mud turtle)
- Kinosternon vogti (Vallarta mud turtle)
Species added to Appendix II
- Copsychus malabaricus (White-rumped shama)
- Physignathus cocincinus (Chinese water dragon)
- Cyrtodactylus jeyporensis (Jeypore Indian gecko, Jeypore ground gecko, Patinghe Indian gecko)
- Tarentola chazaliae (Helmethead gecko)
- Phrynosoma spp. (Horned lizards)
- Chelus fimbriata (Matamata) (includes Chelus orinocensis)
- Chelydra serpentine (Common snapping turtle)
- Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator snapping turtle)
- Graptemys barbouri (Barbour’s map turtle)
- Graptemys ernsti (Escambia map turtle)
- Graptemys gibbonsi (Pacagoula map turtle)
- Graptemys pearlensis (Pearl river turtle)
- Graptemys puchra (Alabama map turtle)
- Rhinoclemmys spp. (Neotropical wood turtles)
- Claudius angustatus (Narrow-bridge musk turtle)
- Kinosternon spp. (Mud turtles) (Except species included in Appendix I)
- Staurotypus salvinii (Chiapas giant musk turtle)
- Staurotypus triporcatus (Mexican giant musk turtle)
- Sternotherus spp. (Musk turtles)
- Apalone spp. (Soft-shell turtles) (Except subspecies included in Appendix I)
- Centrolenidae spp.(Glass frogs)
- Agalychnis lemur (Lemur leaf frog) – With a zero annual export quota for wild-taken specimens traded for commercial purposes
- Laotriton laoensis (Laos warty newt) – With a zero annual export quota for wild-taken specimens traded for commercial purposes
- Carcharhinidae spp. (Requiem sharks) –Inclusion in Appendix II delayed by 12 months, i.e. until November 25, 2023
- Sphyrnidae spp. (Hammerhead sharks)
- Potamotrygon albimaculata (Itaituba river stingray)
- Potamotrygon henlei (Big-tooth river stingray)
- Potamotrygon jabuti (Pearl river stingray)
- Potamotrygon leopoldi (White-blotch river stingray)
- Potamotrygon marquesi
- Potamotrygon signata (Parnaiba river stingray)
- Potamotrygon wallacei (Cururu)
- Rhinobatidae spp. (Guitarfish)
- Hypancistrus zebra (Zebra pleco) – With a zero annual export quota for wild-taken specimens traded for commercial purposes
- Thelenota spp. (Redfish sea cucumbers) –Inclusion in Appendix II delayed by 18 months, i.e. until May 25, 2024
- Handroanthus spp., Roseodendron spp., Tabebuia spp. (Poui, Trumpet trees) with annotation #17 (logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood) –Inclusion in Appendix II delayed by 24 months, i.e. until November 25, 2024
- Rhodiola spp. (Roseroot) with annotation #2 (all parts and derivatives except: a) seeds and pollen; and b) finished products packaged and ready for retail trade)
- Afzelia spp. with annotation #17 (logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood) – Only African populations are included in the Appendices
- Dipteryx spp. with annotation #17 (logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood) –Inclusion in Appendix II delayed by 24 months, i.e. until November 25, 2024
- Pterocarpus spp. with annotation #17 (logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood) (Except Pterocarpus santalinus included in Appendix II with annotation #7) – Only
- African populations are included in the Appendices
- Khaya spp. with annotation #17 (logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood, and transformed wood) – Only African populations are included in the Appendices
Species moved from Appendix I to Appendix II
- Cerathotherium simum simum (Southern white rhinoceros) – population of Namibia is included in Appendix II for the exclusive purpose of allowing in international trade in live animals for in-situ conservation only, and only within the natural and historical range of Cerathotherium simum in Africa. All other specimens remain in Appendix I.
- Cynomys mexicanus (Mexican prairie dog)
- Branta canadensis leucopareia (Aleutian Canada goose)
- Phoebastria albatrus (Short-tailed albatross) (NOTE: Listed as Endangered under the
- Caiman latirostris (Broad-snouted caiman) – population of Brazil included in Appendix II subject to a zero annual export quota for wild specimens traded for commercial purposes (NOTE: Brazil Population Listed as Endangered under the ESA)
- Crocodylus porosus (Saltwater crocodile) – population of Palawan islands, Philippines included in Appendix II subject to a zero annual export quota for wild specimens traded for commercial purposes (NOTE: Palawan islands Population Listed as Endangered under the ESA)
- Chilabothrus inornatus (Puerto Rican boa) (NOTE: Listed as Endangered under the ESA)
Species moved from Appendix II to Appendix I
- Pycnonotus zeylanicus (Straw-headed bulbul) –Inclusion in Appendix I delayed by 12 months, i.e. until November 25, 2023
- Batagur kachuga (Red-crowned roofed turtle)
- Cuora galbinifrons (Indochinese box turtle)
- Nilssonia leithii (Leith’s softshell turtle)
Importers can find the official CITES Notification at Notification No. 2023/005.
To stay informed on import news and other important updates, stay connected with a customs broker.
Image credit: cites.org
