CITES

International agreement under the auspices of the World Conservation Union with the aim of regulating trade in endangered species of animals and plants. The text of the convention was agreed by members of 80 countries in Washington, DC, on 3 March 1973 and came into force on 1 July 1975. By 2004, 160 countries had signed up for the convention. It prohibits any trade in a category of 8,000 highly endangered species and controls trade in a further 30,000 species. The CITES secretariat is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Animals and plants listed in Appendix 1 of CITES are classified endangered, and all trade in these species is banned; those listed in Appendix 2 are classified vulnerable, and trade in these species is controlled without a complete ban; those listed in Appendix 3 are subject to domestic controls, while national governments request help in controlling international trade.