CITES – Trade in Endangered Species
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was negotiated in Washington, D.C., in 1973. Its purpose is to protect endangered animal and plant species from the threat of natural extinction due to their excessive use for commercial purposes. The Convention mainly regulates trade in specimens of endangered species obtained in the wild; it also controls trade in animals bred in captivity and cultivated plants of species that are endangered in nature. The Convention currently has 175 state parties; the Czech Republic has been a party since 1 January 1993 (from 28 May 1992 as the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic).
The CITES website (in English) provides regularly updated information on the implementation of CITES in the Czech Republic, with a link to the relevant national legislation and the acquis communautaire of the EU. Besides other things, it states what the Convention deals with and how it is practically implemented, what species it covers, how to file an application for the import or export of endangered species, and provides translation of the Czech national legal instruments implementing CITES. In addition, it gives a brief insight into the history of development of CITES legislation in the Czech Republic. For further information on CITES (in Czech) please visit CITES webpage.Go to Start