The CITES Convention and trade in animals and plants
Appendix III of the CITES
Article V of the Convention provides that the export of a specimen of a species included in Appendix III from a state which has included that species in Appendix III shall require an export permit. Such an export permit shall only be granted when:
- a management authority of the exporting state is satisfied that the specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of that state for the protection of fauna and flora, and
- a management authority of the exporting state is satisfied that any living specimen will be so prepared and shipped as to minimise the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment.
As Appendix III is composed of unilateral communications from the parties to the Convention, any amendment of it when a new species is added, enters into force 90 days after its submission to the CITES Secretariat. However, any party may, at any time, make a written reservation with respect to any species in Appendix III, with the effect that the trade restriction for that species does not apply to it (Article XVI(2)).
Exceptions to the restrictions to trade, provided for in Appendices I, II and III, may only be granted under very narrowly defined grounds, for example regarding the commercial use of animals bred in captivity or cultivated plants, or for some activities concerning specimens that are destined for scientific research, furthermore for zoos, circuses, or menageries (Article VII).