CITES is the international convention on trade in endangered plant and animal species. In Switzerland, the FSVO is responsible for its enforcement. It regulates and controls international trade to conserve natural populations.
International convention on species conservation
CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Convention aims to ensure sustainable use and long-term preservation of animal and plant populations worldwide.
It became clear very early on that for many species, international trade posed a serious threat. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES for short and sometimes referred to as the Washington Convention – was therefore adopted in 1973.
Switzerland was one of the first signatories and is depositary state for the Convention. The CITES Secretariat is based in Geneva. Today, over 180 countries work together under CITES.
CITES – regulated trade in protected plant and animal species
Endangered plant and animal species should only be traded to the extent permitted by their natural populations. Sustainable, regulated trade is often a more efficient form of protection than an outright ban. Under CITES, the term trade refers to any instance in which a border is crossed.
The import and export of live animals and plants, as well as parts and products derived from them, requires a permit or is illegal, depending on how endangered they are.
Currently, over 6,000 species of animal and 34,000 species of plant are protected under CITES. They are divided into three appendices, depending on the extent of the threat. You can find out whether a species is protected under CITES by checking its scientific name in the data base:
The appendices set out the extent to which trade in a species is restricted and what requirements apply.
Species listed in Appendix I are critically endangered. Trade in these species is severely restricted or illegal (e.g. ivory, tortoiseshell products, shahtoosh shawls or certain species of orchid).
Exceptions from these strict measures are only permitted in clearly defined cases, such as for specimens that demonstrably originate from breeding, for species-conservation programmes or research purposes, and for Pre-Convention specimens. Pre-Convention specimens are specimens that were traded before the Convention came into effect for the species concerned (e.g. antiques).
These appendices include species that may be threatened if trade in them were not controlled. Trade in them is permitted but subject to permit and inspection requirements.
The FSVO is the responsible management authority for CITES in Switzerland.
The enforcement of CITES in Switzerland is based on a clear legal framework that regulates the possession, trade and inspection of specimens of protected species.
Anyone who owns specimens of species listed in Appendices I-III must be able to prove that they were acquired legally. If protected specimens are transferred, the relevant documents must be handed over to the recipient. Article 4 of the CITES Control Ordinance regulates which supporting documents are permitted.
Anyone engaged in commercial trade or commercial breeding of CITES specimens is required to maintain a stock register.
The FSVO is the CITES management authority in Switzerland. It organises the enforcement in a risk-based and flexible way that is in line with international obligations. It aims to ensure that all specimens of protected species in circulation were acquired legally.
In collaboration with the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS), the FSVO inspects consignments within Switzerland as well as when they are imported, in transit and exported. For this purpose it operates six Protected species inspection offices.
If discrepancies are identified, the FSVO flags the specimens as non-compliant and leads the relevant administrative procedures. The FSVO also issues the necessary Swiss CITES documents.
For scientific questions related to CITES, the FSVO is supported by a Federal Commission (“Eidgenössische Kommission für die Belange des Artenschutzübereinkommens CITES”). The body comprises specialists from the fields of zoology, botany, wildlife management, species conservation, environmental law and economics. The members are appointed by the Federal Council.
For the import and export of wild animals and plants listed in Appendix I, the specialist commission first has to confirm that the movement does not threaten the survival of the species, and that it does not violate national regulations on animal and plant protection.
The cantons are primarily responsible for the protection of indigenous plant and animal species. The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) compiles the legal framework. Local authorities and private institutions also play an important part, for example through protected areas.
