The CITES Convention and trade in animals and plants

Provisions of the CITES concern international trade in endangered species. They do not apply to the trade within a state. However, in this regard, Article XIV of the Convention specifies that the parties to the Convention retain the right to adopt stricter domestic measures regarding the conditions for trade in specimens of species covered by the CITES, which may even provide for the complete prohibition of trade. This right to adopt stricter measures also applies to species which are not included in Appendices I, II or III.

Trade in endangered species with a state that is not party to the Convention is not prohibited. However, the parties to the Convention are invited to ensure that "comparable documentation [...] which substantially conforms with the requirements of the present Convention for permits and certificates" are issued and used in such a case (Article X).