CITES: Convention on Trade in Endangered Species

Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a multilateral treaty regulating cross-border trade in at-risk species.
Is CITES legally binding?
How does a species get listed on an appendix?
What happens if a country violates CITES?

Updated June 22, 2026

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Timeline

3 March 1973
on and entered into force on 1 July 1975.
1 July 1975
on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on .

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Example

At CoP19 in Panama City in November 2022, CITES parties voted to list dozens of requiem and hammerhead shark species under Appendix II, tightening permit requirements for the global fin trade.

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CITES operates by listing species in three appendices that determine the level of trade control:

Appendix I covers species threatened with extinction; commercial international trade in wild-caught specimens is generally prohibited (examples include tigers, great apes, and most rhinoceroses).
Appendix II covers species not necessarily threatened now but which may become so without trade controls; trade requires an export permit and a non-detriment finding.
Appendix III covers species protected in at least one country that has asked other parties for cooperation in controlling trade.

Decisions to add, remove, or transfer species between appendices are taken by the Conference of the Parties (CoP), which meets roughly every three years. Each party designates a Management Authority to issue permits and a Scientific Authority to advise on non-detriment findings. Compliance is monitored through national reports, and persistent non-compliance can lead to trade suspensions recommended by the Standing Committee.

CITES does not address habitat loss, pollution, or domestic use directly; its leverage is the permit system at borders. It interacts with related regimes such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the IUCN Red List (which informs but does not bind listing decisions), and regional instruments. The treaty is frequently cited in MUN committees dealing with wildlife trafficking, ivory bans, shark and timber trade, and the intersection of biodiversity loss with transnational organized crime.

Frequently asked questions

Is CITES legally binding?

Yes. CITES is binding on its parties, but it is not self-executing; each party must adopt domestic legislation to implement permit requirements and penalties.

How does a species get listed on an appendix?

Any party may propose a listing or change; proposals are debated and voted on at the Conference of the Parties, with a two-thirds majority of parties present and voting required for adoption.

What happens if a country violates CITES?

The Standing Committee can recommend that other parties suspend commercial trade in CITES-listed species with the non-compliant country, a measure used against several states for issues such as ivory controls.