Countries currently subject to a recommendation to suspend trade

As CITES uses trade measures for its implementation, one recommendation for improving the effectiveness of the Convention is a temporary suspension of trade. Recommendations to suspend trade in specimens of CITES-listed species are made by the Conference of the Parties and the Standing Committee. A recommendation to suspend trade provides a period of time during which the relevant country can move from non-compliance to compliance by inter alia making progress in the enactment of adequate legislation, combating and reducing illegal trade, submitting missing annual reports or responding to specific recommendations of the Standing Committee concerning the implementation of Article IV of the Convention in the context of the Review of Significant Trade. Recommendations to suspend trade are withdrawn immediately upon a country’s return to compliance.

At the request of CITES Parties and to assist implementation of the Convention, the Secretariat has developed a table of recommendations to suspend trade that are currently in force. The table shows the countries affected by the recommendation, the Notification to the Parties containing the recommendation, the basis for the recommendation and scope of trade involved in the recommendation. Where appropriate, explanatory comments are provided.

(Last update: 20/01/2020)

 

Country Notification Basis Scope Valid from
Afghanistan No. 2013/018 (17/05/2013) Annual reports All trade 17 May 2013
Belize No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Myrmecophila tibicinis 15 June 2010
Benin No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Pandinus imperator 2 May 2013
Chamaeleo gracilis 3 February 2016
Chamaeleo senegalensis 3 February 2016
Kinixys homeana 3 February 2016
Cameroon No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Trioceros quadricornis 3 February 2016
Trioceros montium 6 May 2019
Côte d'Ivoire No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Pericopsis elata 7 September 2012
Democratic Republic of the Congo No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Poicephalus fuscicollis1 9 July 2001
No. 2018/081 (01/11/2018) Compliance and enforcement - Article XIII Psittacus erithacus 1 November 2018
No. 2018/082 (01/11/2018) Compliance and enforcement - Article XIII Manis spp. 1 November 2018
Djibouti No. 2011/010 (19/01/2011) National legislation All commercial trade 30 April 2004
No. 2018/015 (30/01/2018) Annual reports All trade 30 January 2018
Equatorial Guinea No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade
Trioceros2 feae 7 September 2012
Prunus africana 3 February 2009
Fiji No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Plerogyra simplex 3 February 2016
Plerogyra sinuosa 3 February 2016
Ghana No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Pandinus imperator 12 August 2014
Chamaeleo gracilis 3 February 2016
Chamaeleo senegalensis 3 February 2016
Grenada No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Strombus gigas 12 May 2006
No. 2016/022 (16/03/2016) Annual reports All trade 16 March 2016
Guinea No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Hippocampus algiricus 3 February 2016
No. 2019/075 (19/12/2019) Compliance and enforcement All commercial trade 16 May 2013
Haiti (Non-Party) No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Strombus gigas 29 September 2003
Lao People's Democratic Republic No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Macaca fascicularis 3 February 2016
Dendrobium nobile 3 February 2009
No. 2018/083 (01/11/2018) Compliance and enforcement - Article XIII Dalbergia spp. 01 November 2018
Liberia No. 2018/012 (22/01/2018) National legislation All commercial trade 15 March 2016
Madagascar No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Coracopsis vasa 20 January 1995
Furcifer labordi
Phelsuma borai, P. gouldi, P. hoeschi,and P. ravenala 
No. 2018/007 (15/01/2018) Species action plan Dalbergia.spp and Diospyros.spp (Population from Madagascar) 15 January 2016
Mali No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Uromastyx dispar 22 August 2008
Mozambique No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade
Smaug mossambicus 7 September 2012
Cordylus tropidosternum 10 August 2001
Cycas thourasii3 6 December 2006
Niger No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Chamaeleo africanus 7 September 2012
Nigeria No. 2018/084 (01/11/2018) Compliance and enforcement - Article XIII Pterocarpus erinaceus 05 October 2018
Senegal No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Hippocampus algiricus 3 February 2016
Solomon Islands No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Corucia zebrata 9 July 2001
Ornithoptera priamus4 20 January 1995
Ornithoptera victoriae
Tridacna derasa, T. crocea, T. gigas, T. maxima and T.squamosa 3 February 2016
Somalia No. 2019/035 (04/07/2019) National legislation All commercial trade 30 July 2004
Togo No. 2020/006 (20/01/2020) Significant trade Poicephalus fuscicollis1 9 July 2001
Pandinus imperator 2 May 2013
United Republic of Tanzania No. 2019/027 (06/05/2019) Significant trade Kinyongia fischeri 3 February 2016
Kinyongia tavetana 3 February 2016
Balearica regulorum 2 May 2013

 

1. Formerly Poicephalus robustus.
2. Formerly Chamaeleo spp.
3. Only the species of Cycadaceae found in Mozambique
4. Formerly Ornithoptera urvillanus

 

Note:

As can be seen in the table above, a country can be subject to several recommendations to suspend trade and these recommendations may be different in scope. For example, there may be a recommendation to suspend all trade in specimens of CITES species with a certain country, or all commercial trade in CITES species, or all trade in specimens of a particular species. In such cases, all of the recommendations should be taken into account by Management Authorities considering applications for permits or certificates.

The reason why there can be more than one trade suspension in place for a country is because there are several processes that can result in such a recommendation. The recommendations are made at different times, independently of each other, and each one remains in effect until the criteria for its withdrawal have been met.