Trade in protected species: permit requirements

Table of contents

Appendix I

Species are rare or endangered because of international trade.

International trade is generally prohibited.

  • However, trade may be possible for captive-bred or artificially reproduced specimens and in such cases as scientific research and Pre-Convention specimens.

Specimens to be imported into Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a Canadian Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) import permit
  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country

Specimens to be exported from Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a Canadian CITES export permit that will be issued once the relevant CITES import permit issued by the Management Authority of the importing country is received.

Appendix II

Are not currently rare or endangered but could become so if trade is not regulated.

  • International trade is possible, controlled by permits.

Specimens to be imported into Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permitissued by the exporting country

Specimens to be exported from Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a Canadian CITES export permit

Appendix III

Are not necessarily endangered but are managed within the listing nation.

  • International trade is possible, controlled by permits.

Specimens to be imported into Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country if the specimen is from a listing nation

Or

  • a CITES export permit, a CITES certificate of origin or a CITES re-export certificate if the specimen is from another nation

Specimens to be exported from Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit

It is also possible to get more general information on the Appendices page of the "About the Convention" section.

Finally, a summary table lists all possible cases.

Table 1: Summary table - Permits. The table below shows permit requirements for importing or exporting according to the 3 Appendices.
Appendix General Info Permits Permits / Canada
I Species are rare or endangered because of international trade. International trade is generally prohibited. However, trade may be possible for captive-bred or artificially reproduced specimens and in such cases as scientific research and Pre-Convention specimens.

For every transaction, the following are required:

  • a CITES import permit issued by the importing country;
  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.

Generally, it is best to first obtain the import permit.

Specimens to be imported into Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a Canadian CITES import permit;
  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.

Specimens to be exported from Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a Canadian CITES export permit that will be issued once the relevant CITES import permit issued by the Management Authority of the importing country is received.
II Species are not currently rare or endangered but could become so if trade is not regulated. International trade is possible, controlled by permits.

Specimens must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.

Specimens to be imported into Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country.

Specimens to be exported from Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a Canadian CITES export permit.
III Species are not necessarily endangered but are managed within the listing nation. International trade is possible, controlled by permits.

Specimens must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting nation if exported from a listing nation,

OR

  • a certificate of origin or a re-export certificate if exported from another nation.

Specimens to be imported into Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit issued by the exporting country if the specimen is from a listing nation,

OR

  • a CITES export permit, a CITES certificate of origin or a CITES re-export certificate if the specimen is from another nation.

Specimens to be exported from Canada must be accompanied by:

  • a CITES export permit.

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