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Introduction

Many animal and plant species are protected by CITES. All commercial activities (currently only available in French and Dutch) with specimens of CITES-protected species must be regulated through a system of permits and certificates.

Are you buying, selling or transporting a plant or animal, or parts of it, for commercial or personal purposes?

If so, first check whether the species is protected by CITES and which rules apply.

CITES in a nutshell

At the international level, the CITES Convention consists of three appendices (Appendix I, II and III) that list wild plant and animal species according to their degree of protection and regulation.
At the European level, the European Union (EU) has adopted specific regulations to implement the provisions of CITES. The CITES Appendices (at the international level) were incorporated into EU legislation with the addition of an additional Annex.

In summary, the European Regulation has four Annexes:

  • Annex A includes all animal and plant species threatened with extinction and whose trade may be detrimental to their survival. These species enjoy the highest protection and may only be traded in exceptional circumstances.
  • Annex B includes all animal and plant species that are not directly threatened, but may become so if their trade is not regulated.
  • Annex C includes species protected in countries that require the cooperation of other CITES participants to control trade in them.
  • Annex D includes species that are not protected by CITES, but for which the EU wants to monitor the flow of imports to different EU member states.  This way, there is more knowledge about these trade flows and it can be considered whether additional protection is needed.

The Annexes play a crucial role in regulating trade in species protected by CITES by determining which CITES documents are required. Like the Convention, the EU protects not only live animals and plants, but also dead animals and plants and their parts and products.
 

Step 1 : Check whether the species is protected by CITES

Write down the scientic name of the species and search for it on the website Species+ (only avalaible in English).

The table below explains what to do according to the search result on the  ‘Species+’ site

Result What now ?
Did you find the species ? Move to step 2: verifiy the species’ level of protection.
Can't find the species on the ‘Species+’ website ? The species may not be protected by CITES. You can check with the CITES service at cites@health.fgov.be.
Don't know the scientific name of the species?
  • The ‘Species+’ site accepts the common names of species in French, English and Spanish. This allows you to find the scientific name of your species.
  • You can check the scientific name with the CITES service at cites@health.fgov.be.
Is the species not listed in the CITES or EU Annexes? Check whether the species is protected in Belgium by specific regulations.

 

Step 2 : verify the species' level of protection 

The search result on the 'Species+' website shows the degree of protection the species enjoys under CITES. It tells you which CITES Appendix (I, II, III) and which European Annex (A, B, C, D) the species is listed in.
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CITES Appendices

You can find the level of protection for the species you are looking for directly under CITES > CITES Listing > Appendix.
A colored dot with Roman numerals I, II or III indicates the Appendix in which the species is listed.
 
CITES listing

Appendix I lists the most endangered species. Appendix II and III list species that are not immediately threatened with extinction or are protected by certain signatory countries.

More information :

European Annexes

Click on the ‘EU listing’ tab. You can find the European level of protection under EU Wildlife Trade Regulations > EU listing > Annex. A colored dot with the letters A, B, C or D indicates the Annex in which the species is listed.

EU listing 

The European Union (EU) has divided CITES-listed species, as well as other non-CITES species protected in the EU, into four Annexes called A, B, C and D.

More information :

Exceptions

Exceptions may apply to certain species, which are then more or less protected, depending on the country.
If exceptions apply to your species, you will find them in the search results, in the ‘Notes’ column.
 
Species+ notes

Trade suspension

CITES can impose a suspension of trade on a particular country. Certain species are also banned from being imported into the European Union.

If your species is subject to a trade suspension or import ban, you will see this in the search results, under

  • CITES > Suspensions ;
  • EU Wildlife Trade Regulations > EU Regulations.

Example : 

  • Suspension of CITES trade at international level for a species from Cameroon :
    suspension CITES
  • EU import ban on wild specimens from Cameroon :

More information :

Step 3 : check whether we have published a specific information page for this species

Some species protected by CITES require specific attention. For example, because they are often involved in trade or because they are very strictly protected.

Check to find out if your species falls under the list of species and activities below.
These pages are currently only available in French and Dutch

Step 4 : submit your application (only for belgian residents)

First, check that you have all the information you need about your species. This will make it easier for you to fill in the application form.

Not sure what documents or information you need? Please consult the page What documents do I need? (the page is currently only available in French and Dutch)

Once you have gathered all the necessary information, you can submit your application via our online application system.