What is CITES?

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between 172 countries to ensure that the trade of animal and plant specimens does not threaten specimens' survival. Over 30,000 animal and plant species are protected by the agreement whether traded as living specimens or non-living products. Each participating country is responsible for implementing and enforcing its own legislation to these ends.

How does CITES work?

The import, export and re-export of species covered by CITES must be authorized through a licensing system. A specimen of a CITES-listed species may be imported into or export (or re-exported) from a participating country only if the appropriate documentation has been obtained and presented for clearance at the port of entry or exit. The species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices, according to the degree of protection required:

• Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
• Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. An export/re-export permit issued by the management authority of the state (e.g., US Fish and Wildlife) of export or re-export is required. No import permit is needed unless required by national law.
• Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, when the country has asked other CITES participants for assistance in controlling the trade. In the case of trade from a state that included the species in Appendix III, an export permit issued by the management authority of that state is required. In case of export from any other state, a certificate of origin is issued by its management authority is required. Lastly, in the case of re-export, a re-export certificate issued by the state of re-export is required.

All skins processed by Pan American are currently from Appendix II species. On behalf of our customers, we utilize our intricate knowledge of industry procedures to obtain all of the proper CITES documentation.