Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
Title 50 - Wildlife and Fisheries last revised: Nov 18, 2024
§ 23.68 - How can I trade internationally in roots of American ginseng?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions. Whole plants and roots (whole, sliced, and parts, excluding manufactured parts, products, and derivatives, such as powders, pills, extracts, tonics, teas, and confectionery) of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), whether wild or artificially propagated, are included in Appendix II. Cultivated American ginseng that does not meet the requirements of artificially propagated will be considered wild for export and re-export purposes. The import, export, or re-export of ginseng roots must meet the requirements of this section and other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures). For specimens that were harvested from a State or Tribe without an approved CITES export program, see § 23.36 for export permits and § 23.37 for re-export certificates.
(b) Export approval of State and tribal programs. States and Tribes set up and maintain ginseng management and harvest programs designed to monitor and protect American ginseng from over-harvest. When a State or Tribe with a management program provides us with the necessary information, we make programmatic findings and have specific requirements that allow export under CITES. For wild ginseng, a State or Tribe must provide sufficient information for us to determine that its management program and harvest controls are appropriate to ensure that ginseng harvested within its jurisdiction is legally acquired and that export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. For artificially propagated ginseng, a State or Tribe must provide sufficient information for us to determine that ginseng grown within its jurisdiction meets the definition of artificially propagated and the State or Tribe must have procedures in place to minimize the risk that the roots of wild-collected plants would be claimed as artificially propagated.
(1) A State or Tribe seeking initial CITES export program approval for wild or artificially propagated American ginseng must submit the following information on the adoption and implementation of regulatory measures to the U.S. Management Authority:
(i) Laws or regulations mandating licensing or registration of persons buying and selling ginseng in that State or on tribal lands.
(ii) A requirement that ginseng dealers maintain records and provide copies of those records to the appropriate State or tribal management agency upon request. Dealer records must contain: the name and address of the ginseng seller, date of transaction, whether the ginseng is wild or artificially propagated and dried or green at time of transaction, weight of roots, State or Tribe of origin of roots, and identification numbers of the State or tribal certificates used to ship ginseng from the State or Tribe of origin.
(iii) A requirement that State or tribal personnel will inspect roots, ensure legal harvest, and have the ability to determine the age of roots of all wild-collected ginseng harvested in the State or on tribal lands. State or tribal personnel may accept a declaration statement by the licensed or registered dealer or grower that the ginseng roots are artificially propagated.
(iv) A requirement that State or tribal personnel will weigh ginseng roots unsold by March 31 of the year after harvest and give a weight receipt to the owner of the roots. Future export certification of this stock must be issued against the weight receipt.
(v) A requirement that State or tribal personnel will issue certificates for wild and artificially propagated ginseng. These certificates must contain at a minimum:
(A) State of origin.
(B) Serial number of certificate.
(C) Dealer's State or tribal license or registration number.
(D) Dealer's shipment number for that harvest season.
(E) Year of harvest of ginseng being certified.
(F) Designation as wild or artificially propagated.
(G) Designation as dried or fresh (green) roots.
(H) Weight of roots.
(I) Statement of State or tribal certifying official verifying that the ginseng was obtained in that State or on those tribal lands in accordance with all relevant laws for that harvest year.
(J) Name and title of State or tribal certifying official.
(2) In addition, a State or Tribe seeking initial CITES export program approval for wild American ginseng must submit the following information to the U.S. Management Authority:
(i) An assessment of the condition of the population and trends, including a description of the types of information on which the assessment is based, such as an analysis of population demographics; population models; or analysis of past harvest levels or indices of abundance independent of harvest information, such as field surveys.
(ii) Historic, present, and potential distribution of wild ginseng on a county-by-county basis.
(iii) Phenology of ginseng, including flowering and fruiting periods.
(iv) Habitat evaluation.
(v) If available, copies of any ginseng management or monitoring plans or other relevant reports that the State or Tribe has prepared as part of its existing management program.
(3) A State or Tribe with an approved CITES export program must complete Form 3-200-61 and submit it to the U.S. Management Authority by May 31 of each year to provide information on the previous harvest season.
(c) U.S. application process. Application forms and a list of States and Tribes with approved ginseng programs can be obtained from our website or by contacting us (see § 23.7).
(1) To export wild or artificially propagated ginseng harvested under an approved State or tribal program, complete Form 3-200-34 or Form 3-200-74 for additional single-use permits under an annual program file.
(2) To export wild ginseng harvested from a State or Tribe that does not have an approved program, complete Form 3-200-32. To export artificially propagated ginseng from a State or Tribe that does not have an approved program, complete Form 3-200-33.
(3) To re-export ginseng, complete Form 3-200-32.
(4) For information on issuance criteria for CITES documents, see § 23.36 for export permits, § 23.37 for re-export certificates, and § 23.40 for certificates for artificially propagated plants.
(d) Conditions for export. Upon export, roots must be accompanied by a State or tribal certificate containing the information specified in paragraph (b)(1)(v) of this section.
§ 23.69 - How can I trade internationally in fur skins and fur skin products of bobcat, river otter, Canada lynx, gray wolf, and brown bear harvested in the United States?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions. For purposes of this section, CITES furbearers means bobcat (Lynx rufus), river otter (Lontra canadensis), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), gray wolf (Canis lupus), and brown bear (Ursus arctos) harvested in the United States . These species are included in Appendix II based on Article II(2)(b) of the Treaty (see § 23.89). The import, export, or re-export of fur skins and fur skin products must meet the requirements of this section and the other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures). For specimens that were harvested from a State or Tribe without an approved CITES export program, see § 23.36 for export permits and § 23.37 for re-export certificates.
(b) Export approval of State and tribal programs. States and Tribes set up and maintain management and harvest programs designed to monitor and protect CITES furbearers from over-harvest. When a State or Tribe with a management program provides us with the necessary information, we make programmatic findings and have specific requirements that allow export under CITES. A State or Tribe must provide sufficient information for us to determine that its management program and harvest controls are appropriate to ensure that CITES furbearers harvested within its jurisdiction are legally acquired and that export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
(1) A State or Tribe seeking initial CITES export program approval must submit the following information to the U.S. Management Authority, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section:
(i) An assessment of the condition of the population and a description of the types of information on which the assessment is based, such as an analysis of carcass demographics, population models, analysis of past harvest levels as a function of fur prices or trapper effort, or indices of abundance independent of harvest information, such as scent station surveys, archer surveys, camera traps, track or scat surveys, or road kill counts.
(ii) Current harvest control measures, including laws regulating harvest seasons and methods.
(iii) Total allowable harvest of the species.
(iv) Distribution of harvest.
(v) Indication of how frequently harvest levels are evaluated.
(vi) Tagging or marking requirements for fur skins.
(vii) Habitat evaluation.
(viii) If available, copies of any furbearer management plans or other relevant reports that the State or Tribe has prepared as part of its existing management program.
(2) If the U.S. Scientific Authority has made a range-wide non-detriment finding for a species, a State or Tribe seeking initial approval for a CITES export program for that species need only submit the information in (b)(1)(ii) and (vi) of this section.
(3) A State or Tribe with an approved CITES export program must submit a CITES furbearer activity report to the U.S. Management Authority by October 31 of each year that provides information as to whether or not the population status or management of the species has changed within the State or tribal lands. This report may reference information provided in previous years if the information has not changed. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, a furbearer activity report should include, at a minimum, the following:
(i) For each species, the number of specimens taken and the number of animals tagged, if different.
(ii) An assessment of the condition of the population, including trends, and a description of the types of information on which the assessment is based. If population levels are decreasing, the activity report should include the State or Tribe's professional assessment of the reason for the decline and any steps being taken to address it.
(iii) Information on, and a copy of, any changes in laws or regulations affecting these species.
(iv) If available, copies of relevant reports that the State or Tribe has prepared during the year in question as part of its existing management programs for CITES furbearers.
(4) When the U.S. Scientific Authority has made a range-wide non-detriment finding for a species, the annual furbearer activity report from a State or Tribe with an approved export program for that species should include, at a minimum, a statement indicating whether or not the status of the species has changed and the information in paragraph (b)(3)(iii) and (iv) of this section. Range-wide non-detriment findings will be re-evaluated at least every 5 years, or sooner if information indicates that there has been a change in the status or management of the species that might lead to different treatment of the species. When a range-wide non-detriment finding is re-evaluated, States and Tribes with an approved export program for the species must submit information that allows us to determine whether our finding remains valid.
(c) CITES tags. Unless an alternative method has been approved, each CITES fur skin to be exported or re-exported must have a U.S. CITES tag permanently attached.
(1) The tag must be inserted through the skin and permanently locked in place using the locking mechanism of the tag.
(2) The legend on the CITES tag must include the US-CITES logo, an abbreviation for the State or Tribe of harvest, a standard species code assigned by the Management Authority, and a unique serial number.
(3) Fur skins without a CITES tag permanently attached may not be exported or re-exported. If the CITES tag has been inadvertently removed, damaged, or lost you may obtain a replacement tag. To obtain a replacement tag, either from the State or Tribe that issued the original tag or from us, you must provide information to show that the fur was legally acquired.
(i) When a tag is inadvertently removed, damaged, or lost, you may contact the State or Tribe of harvest for a replacement tag. If the State or Tribe cannot replace it, you may apply to FWS Law Enforcement for a replacement tag. If the tag has been inadvertently removed or damaged, you must give us the tag. If the tag is lost, you must provide details concerning how the tag was lost. If we are satisfied that the fur was legally acquired, we will provide a CITES replacement tag.
(ii) A replacement tag must meet all of the requirements in paragraph (c) of this section, except the legend will include only the US-CITES logo, FWS-REPL, and a unique serial number.
(4) Tags are not required on fur skin products.
(d) Documentation requirements. The U.S. CITES export permit or an annex attached to the permit must contain all information that is given on the tag.
(e) U.S. application process. Application forms and a list of States and Tribes with approved furbearer programs can be obtained from our website or by contacting us (see § 23.7).
(1) To export fur skins taken under an approved State or tribal program, complete Form 3-200-26 and submit it to either FWS Law Enforcement or the U.S. Management Authority.
(2) To export fur skins that were not harvested under an approved program or to export products made from fur skins, complete Form 3-200-27 and submit it to the U.S. Management Authority.
(3) To re-export fur skins or products made from fur skins, complete Form 3-200-73 and submit it either to FWS Law Enforcement or the U.S. Management Authority.
(4) For information on issuance criteria for CITES documents, see § 23.36 for export permits and § 23.37 for re-export certificates.
(f) Conditions for export. Upon export, each fur skin, other than a fur skin product, must be clearly identified in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.
[72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, as amended at 79 FR 30426, May 27, 2014]
§ 23.70 - How can I trade internationally in American alligator and other crocodilian skins, parts, and products?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions. For the purposes of this section, crocodilian means all species of alligator, caiman, crocodile, and gavial of the order Crocodylia. The import, export, or re-export of any crocodilian skins, parts, or products must meet the requirements of this section and the other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures). For American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) specimens harvested from a State or Tribe without an approved CITES export program, see § 23.36 for export permits and § 23.37 for re-export certificates.
(b) Definitions. Terms used in this section are defined as follows:
(1) Crocodilian skins means whole or partial skins, flanks, chalecos, and bellies (including those that are salted, crusted, tanned, partially tanned, or otherwise processed), including skins of sport-hunted trophies.
(2) Crocodilian parts means body parts with or without skin attached (including tails, throats, feet, meat, skulls, and other parts) and small cut skin pieces.
(c) Export approval of State and tribal programs for American alligator. States and Tribes set up and maintain management and harvest programs designed to monitor and protect American alligators from over-harvest. When a State or Tribe with a management program provides us with the necessary information, we make programmatic findings and have specific requirements that allow export under CITES. A State or Tribe must provide sufficient information for us to determine that its management program and harvest controls are appropriate to ensure that alligators harvested within its jurisdiction are legally acquired and that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
(1) A State or Tribe seeking initial CITES export program approval must submit the following to the U.S. Management Authority:
(i) An assessment of the condition of the wild population and a description of the types of information on which the assessment is based, such as an analysis of carcass demographics, population models, analysis of past harvest levels as a function of skin prices or harvester effort, or indices of abundance independent of harvest information, such as nest surveys, spotlighting surveys, or nuisance complaints.
(ii) Current harvest control measures, including laws regulating harvest seasons and methods.
(iii) Total allowable harvest of the species.
(iv) Distribution of harvest.
(v) Indication of how frequently harvest levels are evaluated.
(vi) Tagging or marking requirements for skins and parts.
(vii) Habitat evaluation.
(viii) Information on nuisance alligator management programs.
(ix) Information on alligator farming programs, including whether collecting and rearing of eggs or hatchlings is allowed, what factors are used to set harvest levels, and whether any alligators are returned to the wild.
(x) If available, copies of any alligator management plans or other relevant reports for American alligator that the State or Tribe has prepared as part of its existing management program.
(2) A State or Tribe with an approved CITES export program must submit an American alligator activity report to the U.S. Management Authority by July 1 of each year to provide information regarding harvests during the previous year. This report may reference information provided in previous years if the information has not changed. An American alligator activity report, at a minimum, should include the following:
(i) The total number of skins from wild or farmed alligators that were tagged by the State or Tribe.
(ii) An assessment of the status of the alligator population with an indication of whether the population is stable, increasing, or decreasing, and at what rate (if known). If population levels are decreasing, activity reports should include the State or Tribe's professional assessment of the reason for the decline and any steps being taken to address it.
(iii) For wild alligators, information on harvest, including harvest of nuisance alligators, methods used to determine harvest levels, demographics of the harvest, and methods used to determine the total number and population trends of alligators in the wild.
(iv) For farmed alligators, information on whether collecting and rearing of eggs or hatchlings is allowed, what factors are used to set harvest levels, and whether any alligators are returned to the wild.
(v) Information on, and a copy of, any changes in laws or regulations affecting the American alligator.
(vi) If available, copies of relevant reports that the State or Tribe has prepared during the reporting period as part of its existing management program for the American alligator.
(3) We provide CITES export tags to States and Tribes with approved CITES export programs. American alligator skins and parts must meet the marking and tagging requirements of paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of this section.
(d) Tagging of crocodilian skins. You may import, export, or re-export any crocodilian skin only if a non-reusable tag is inserted though the skin and locked in place using the locking mechanism of the tag. A mounted sport-hunted trophy must be accompanied by the tag from the skin used to make the mount.
(1) Except as provided for a replacement tag in paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section, the tag must:
(i) Be tamper-resistant, self-locking, heat resistant, and inert to chemical and mechanical processes.
(ii) Be permanently stamped with the two-letter ISO code for the country of origin, a unique serial number, a standardized species code (available on our Web site; see § 23.7), and for specimens of species from populations that have been transferred from Appendix I to Appendix II for ranching, the year of skin production or harvest. For American alligator, the export tags include the US-CITES logo, an abbreviation for the State or Tribe of harvest, a standard species code (MIS = Alligator mississippiensis), the year of skin production or harvest, and a unique serial number.
(iii) If the year of skin production or harvest and serial number appear next to each other on a tag, the information should be separated by a hyphen.
(2) Skins, flanks, and chalecos must be individually tagged.
(3) Skins without a non-reusable tag permanently attached may not be exported or re-exported. To obtain a replacement tag, either from the State or Tribe of harvest (for American alligator) or from us, you must provide information to show that the skin was legally acquired.
(i) In the United States, when an American alligator tag is inadvertently removed, damaged, or lost, you may contact the State or Tribe of harvest for a replacement tag. If the State or Tribe cannot replace it, you may apply to FWS Law Enforcement for a replacement tag. To obtain replacement tags for crocodilian skins other than American alligator in the United States, contact FWS Law Enforcement. If the tag has been inadvertently removed or damaged, you must give us the tag. If the tag is lost, you must provide details concerning how the tag was lost. If we are satisfied that the skin was legally acquired, we will provide a CITES replacement tag.
(ii) A replacement tag must meet all of the requirements in paragraph (d)(1) of this section except that the species code and year of skin production or harvest will not be required, and for re-exports the country of re-export must be shown in place of the country of origin. In the United States, the legend will include the US-CITES logo, FWS-REPL, and a unique serial number.
(e) Meat and skulls. Except for American alligator, you may import, export, or re-export crocodilian meat and skulls without tags or markings. American alligator meat and skulls may be imported, exported, or re-exported if packaged and marked or tagged in accordance with State or tribal laws as follows:
(1) Meat from legally harvested and tagged alligators must be packed in permanently sealed containers and labeled as required by State or tribal laws or regulations. Bulk meat containers must be marked with any required State or tribal parts tag or bulk meat tag permanently attached and indicating, at a minimum, State or Tribe of origin, year of take, species, original U.S. CITES tag number for the corresponding skin, weight of meat in the container, and identification of State-licensed processor or packer.
(2) Each American alligator skull must be marked as required by State or tribal law or regulation.
(f) Tagging or labeling of crocodilian parts other than meat and skulls. You may import, export, or re-export crocodilian parts other than meat and skulls when the following conditions are met:
(1) Parts must be packed in transparent sealed containers.
(2) Containers must be clearly marked with a non-reusable parts tag or label that includes all of the information in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section and a description of the contents, the total weight (contents and container), and the number of the CITES document.
(3) Tags are not required on crocodilian products.
(4) Tags are not required on scientific specimens except as required in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section.
(g) Documentation requirements. The CITES document or an annex attached to the document must contain all information that is given on the tag or label.
(h) U.S. application process. Application forms and a list of States and Tribes with approved American alligator programs can be obtained from our website or by contacting us (see § 23.7).
(1) To export American alligator specimens taken under an approved State or tribal program, except for products made from American alligators, complete Form 3-200-26 and submit it to either FWS Law Enforcement or the U.S. Management Authority.
(2) To export American alligator specimens that are not from an approved program or to export products made from American alligators,, complete Form 3-200-27 and submit it to the U.S. Management Authority.
(3) To re-export crocodilian specimens, complete Form 3-200-73 and submit it to either FWS Law Enforcement or the U.S. Management Authority.
(4) For information on issuance criteria for CITES documents, see § 23.36 for export permits and § 23.37 for re-export certificates.
(i) Conditions for import, export, or re-export. Upon import, export, or re-export, each crocodilian specimen must meet the applicable tagging requirements in paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of this section.
[72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, as amended at 79 FR 30427, May 27, 2014]
§ 23.71 - How can I trade internationally in sturgeon caviar?
(a) U.S. and foreign provisions. For the purposes of this section, sturgeon caviar or caviar means the processed roe of any species of sturgeon or paddlefish (order Acipenseriformes). It does not include sturgeon or paddlefish eggs contained in shampoos, cosmetics, lotions, or other products for topical application. The import, export, or re-export of sturgeon caviar must meet the requirements of this section and the other requirements of this part. The import, export, or re-export of Acipenseriformes specimens other than caviar must meet the other requirements of this part. See subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures.
(b) Labeling. You may import, export, or re-export sturgeon caviar only if labels are affixed to containers prior to export or re-export in accordance with this paragraph.
(1) The following definitions apply to caviar labeling:
(i) Non-reusable label means any label or mark that cannot be removed without being damaged or transferred to another container. In the United States, the design of the label will be determined by the labeler in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(ii) Primary container means any container (tin, jar, pail or other receptacle) in direct contact with the caviar.
(iii) Secondary container means the receptacle into which primary containers are placed.
(iv) Processing plant means a facility in the country of origin responsible for the first packaging of caviar into a primary container. In the United States, this may be done by the person who harvested the roe.
(v) Repackaging plant means a facility responsible for receiving and repackaging caviar into new primary containers. This includes any facility where caviar is removed from the container in which it was received and placed in a different container.
(vi) Lot identification number means a number that corresponds to information related to the caviar tracking system used by the processing plant or repackaging plant.
(2) The caviar-processing plant in the country of origin must affix a non-reusable label on the primary container that includes all of the following information:
(i) Standardized species code; for hybrids, the species code for the male is followed by the code for the female and the codes are separated by an “x” (codes are available on our website; see § 23.7).
(ii) Source code.
(iii) Two-letter ISO code of the country of origin.
(iv) Year of harvest. This is either the calendar year in which caviar was harvested or, for caviar imported from shared stocks subject to quotas, the quota year in which it was harvested.
(v) Processing plant code and lot identification number.
(3) If caviar is repackaged before export or re-export, the repackaging plant must affix a non-reusable label to the primary container that includes all of the following information:
(i) The standardized species code, source code, and two-letter ISO code of the country of origin.
(ii) Year of repackaging and the repackaging plant code, which incorporates the two-letter ISO code for the repackaging country if different from the country of origin.
(iii) Lot identification number or, for caviar that is being re-exported, the CITES document number under which it was imported may be used in place of the lot identification number.
(4) The exact quantity of caviar must be indicated on any secondary container along with a description of the contents in accordance with international customs regulations.
(c) Documentation requirements. Unless the sturgeon caviar qualifies as a personal or household effect under § 23.15, the CITES document or an annex attached to the document must contain all information that is given on the label. The exact quantity of each species of caviar must be indicated on the CITES document.
(d) Export quotas. Commercial shipments of sturgeon caviar from stocks shared between different countries may be imported only if all of the following conditions have been met:
(1) The relevant countries have established annual export quotas for the shared stocks that were derived from catch quotas agreed among the countries. The quotas are based on an appropriate regional conservation strategy and monitoring regime and are not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
(2) The quotas have been communicated to the CITES Secretariat and the Secretariat has communicated the annual export quotas to CITES Parties.
(3) The caviar is exported during the quota year (March 1 - last day of February) in which it was harvested and processed.
(e) Re-exports. Any re-export of sturgeon caviar must occur within 18 months from the date of issuance of the original export permit.
(f) Pre-Convention. Sturgeon caviar may not be imported, exported, or re-exported under a pre-Convention certificate.
(g) Mixed caviar. Caviar that consists of roe from more than one species may only be imported into or exported from the United States if the exact quantity of roe from each species is known and is indicated on the CITES document.
(h) U.S. application forms. Application forms can be obtained from our website or by contacting us (see § 23.7). For CITES document requirements, see § 23.36 for export permits and § 23.37 for re-export certificates. For export, complete Form 3-200-76 or Form 3-200-80 and submit it to the U.S. Management Authority. For re-export, complete Form 3-200-73 and submit it either to FWS Law Enforcement or the U.S. Management Authority.
(i) CITES register of exporters and of processing and repackaging plants. The CITES Secretariat maintains a “Register of licensed exporters and of processing and repackaging plants for specimens of sturgeon and paddlefish species” on its Web site. If you hold a current import-export license issued by FWS Law Enforcement and wish to be added to the CITES register, you may submit your contact information and processing or repackaging plant codes to the U.S. Management Authority for submission to the CITES Secretariat.
[72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, as amended at 73 FR 40986, July 17, 2008; 79 fr 30428, May 27, 2014]
§ 23.72 - How can I trade internationally in plants?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions: In addition to the requirements of this section, the import, export, or re-export of CITES plant specimens must meet the other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures).
(b) Seeds. International shipments of seeds of any species listed in Appendix I, except for seeds of certain artificially propagated hybrids (see § 23.92), or seeds of species listed in Appendix II or III with an annotation that includes seeds, must be accompanied by a valid CITES document. International shipments of CITES seeds that are artificially propagated also must be accompanied by a valid CITES document.
(c) A plant propagated from exempt plant material. A plant grown from exempt plant material is regulated by CITES.
(1) The proposed shipment of the specimen is treated as an export even if the exempt plant material from which it was derived was previously imported. The country of origin is the country in which the specimen ceased to qualify for the exemption.
(2) Plants grown from exempt plant material qualify as artificially propagated provided they are grown under controlled conditions.
(3) To export plants grown from exempt plant material under controlled conditions, complete Form 3-200-33 for a certificate for artificially propagated plants.
(d) Salvaged plants. (1) For purposes of this section, salvaged plant means a plant taken from the wild as a result of some environmental modification in a country where a Party has done all of the following:
(i) Ensured that the environmental modification program does not threaten the survival of CITES plant species, and that protection of Appendix-I species in situ is considered a national and international obligation.
(ii) Established salvaged specimens in cultivation after concerted attempts have failed to ensure that the environmental modification program would not put at risk wild populations of CITES species.
(2) International trade in salvaged Appendix-I plants, and Appendix-II plants whose entry into trade might otherwise have been considered detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild, may be permitted only when all the following conditions are met:
(i) Such trade would clearly benefit the survival of the species in the wild or in cultivation.
(ii) Import is for the purposes of care and propagation.
(iii) Import is by a bona fide botanic garden or scientific institution.
(iv) Any salvaged Appendix-I plant will not be sold or used to establish a commercial operation for artificial propagation after import.
§ 23.73 - How can I trade internationally in timber?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions: In addition to the requirements of this section, the import, export, or re-export of timber species listed under CITES must meet the other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures).
(b) Definitions. The following definitions apply to parts, products, and derivatives that appear in the annotations to certain timber species in the CITES Appendices. These definitions are based on the tariff classifications of the Harmonized System of the World Customs Organization.
(1) Logs means all wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared for processing, notably into sawn wood, pulpwood, or veneer sheets.
(2) Sawn wood means wood simply sawn lengthwise or produced by a profile-chipping process. Sawn wood normally exceeds 6 mm in thickness.
(3) Veneer sheets means thin layers or sheets of wood of uniform thickness, usually 6 mm or less, usually peeled or sliced, for use in making plywood, veneer furniture, veneer containers, or similar products.
(4) Plywood means wood material consisting of three or more sheets of wood glued and pressed one on the other and generally disposed so that the grains of successive layers are at an angle.
(c) The following exceptions apply to Appendix-II or -III timber species that have a substantive annotation that designates either logs, sawn wood, and veneer sheets, or logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and plywood:
(1) Change in destination. When a shipment of timber destined for one country is redirected to another, the Management Authority in the country of import may change the name and address of the importer indicated on the CITES document under the following conditions:
(i) The quantity imported is the same as the quantity certified by a stamp or seal and authorized signature of the Management Authority on the CITES document at the time of export or re-export.
(ii) The number of the bill of lading for the shipment is on the CITES document, and the bill of lading is presented at the time of import.
(iii) The import takes place before the CITES document expires, and the period of validity has not been extended.
(iv) The Management Authority of the importing country includes the following statement in block 5, or an equivalent place, of the CITES document: “Import into [name of country] permitted in accordance with [cite the appropriate section number from the current permit and certificate resolution] on [date].” The modification is certified with an official stamp and signature.
(v) The Management Authority sends a copy of the amended CITES document to the country of export or re-export and the Secretariat.
(2) Extension of CITES document validity. A Management Authority in the country of import may extend the validity of an export permit or re-export certificate beyond the normal maximum of 6 months after the date of issue under the following conditions:
(i) The shipment has arrived in the port of final destination before the CITES document expires, is being held in customs bond, and is not considered imported.
(ii) The time extension does not exceed 6 months from the date of expiration of the CITES document and no previous extension has been issued.
(iii) The Management Authority has included in block 5, or an equivalent place, of the CITES document the date of arrival and the new date of expiration on the document, and certified the modification with an official stamp and signature.
(iv) The shipment is imported into the country from the port where the Management Authority issued the extension and before the amended CITES document expires.
(v) The Management Authority sends a copy of the amended CITES document to the country of export or re-export and to the Secretariat.
§ 23.74 - How can I trade internationally in personal sport-hunted trophies?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions. Except as provided for personal and household effects in § 23.15, the import, export, or re-export of sport-hunted trophies of species listed under CITES must meet the requirements of this section and the other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C for prohibitions and application procedures).
(b) Sport-hunted trophy means a whole dead animal or a readily recognizable part or derivative of an animal specifically identified on accompanying CITES documents that meets the following criteria:
(1) Is raw, processed, or manufactured;
(2) Was legally obtained by the hunter through hunting for his or her personal use;
(3) Is being imported, exported, or re-exported by or on behalf of the hunter as part of the transfer from its country of origin ultimately to the hunter's country of usual residence; and
(4) Includes worked, manufactured, or handicraft items made from the sport-hunted animal only when:
(i) Such items are contained in the same shipment as raw or tanned parts of the sport-hunted animal and are for the personal use of the hunter;
(ii) The quantity of such items is no more than could reasonably be expected given the number of animals taken by the hunter as shown on the license or other documentation of the authorized hunt accompanying the shipment; and
(iii) The accompanying CITES documents (export document and, if appropriate, import permit) contain a complete itemization and description of all items included in the shipment.
(c) Use after import. You may use your sport-hunted trophy after import into the United States as provided in § 23.55.
(d) Quantity. The following provisions apply to the issuance and acceptance of U.S. and foreign documents for sport-hunted trophies originating from a population for which the Conference of the Parties has established an export quota. The number of trophies that one hunter may import in any calendar year for the following species is:
(1) No more than two leopard (Panthera pardus) trophies.
(2) No more than one markhor (Capra falconeri) trophy.
(3) No more than one black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) trophy.
(e) Marking or tagging. (1) The following provisions apply to the issuance and acceptance of U.S. and foreign documents for sport-hunted trophies originating from a population for which the Conference of the Parties has established an export quota. Each trophy imported, exported, or re-exported must be marked or tagged in the following manner:
(i) Leopard and markhor: Each raw or tanned skin must have a self-locking tag inserted through the skin and permanently locked in place using the locking mechanism of the tag. The tag must indicate the country of origin, the number of the specimen in relation to the annual quota, and the calendar year in which the specimen was taken in the wild. A mounted sport-hunted trophy must be accompanied by the tag from the skin used to make the mount.
(ii) Black rhinoceros: Parts of the trophy, including, but not limited to, skin, skull, or horns, whether mounted or loose, should be individually marked with reference to the country of origin, species, the number of the specimen in relation to the annual quota, and the year of export.
(iii) Crocodilians: See marking requirements in § 23.70.
(iv) The export permit or re-export certificate or an annex attached to the permit or certificate must contain all the information that is given on the tag.
(2) African elephant (Loxodonta africana). The following provisions apply to the issuance and acceptance of U.S. and foreign documents for sport-hunted trophies of African elephant. The trophy ivory must be legibly marked by means of punch-dies, indelible ink, or other form of permanent marking, under a marking and registration system established by the country of origin, with the following formula: The country of origin represented by the corresponding two-letter ISO country code; the last two digits of the year in which the elephant was harvested for export; the serial number for the year in question; and the weight of the ivory in kilograms. The mark must be highlighted with a flash of color and placed on the lip mark area. The lip mark area is the area of a whole African elephant tusk where the tusk emerges from the skull and which is usually denoted by a prominent ring of staining on the tusk in its natural state.
[72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, as amended at 79 FR 30428, May 27, 2014]
§ 23.75 - How can I trade internationally in vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)?
(a) U.S. and foreign general provisions. The import, export, or re-export of specimens of vicuña must meet the requirements of this section and the other requirements of this part (see subparts B and C of this part for prohibitions and application procedures). Certain populations of vicuña are listed in Appendix II for the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in wool sheared from live vicuñas, cloth made from such wool, and products manufactured from such wool or cloth. All other specimens of vicuña are deemed to be specimens of a species included in Appendix I.
(b) Vicuña Convention means the Convenio para la Conservación y Manejo de la Vicuña, of which vicuña range countries are signatories.
(c) Vicuña logotype means the logotype adopted by the vicuña range countries under the Vicuña Convention.
(d) Country of origin for the purposes of the vicuña label means the name of the country where the vicuña wool in the cloth or product originated.
(e) Wool sheared from live vicuñas, cloth from such wool, and products manufactured from such wool or cloth may be imported from Appendix-II populations only when they meet the labeling requirements in paragraph (f) of this section.
(f) Labeling requirements. Except for cloth containing CITES pre-Convention wool of vicuña, you may import, export, or re-export vicuña cloth only when the reverse side of the cloth bears the vicuña logotype and the selvages bear the words “VICUÑA—COUNTRY OF ORIGIN”. Specimens of other products manufactured from vicuña wool or cloth must bear a label that has the vicuña logotype and the designation “VICUÑA—COUNTRY OF ORIGIN—ARTESANIA”. Each specimen must bear such a label. For import into the United States of raw wool sheared from live vicuña, see the labeling requirements in 50 CFR 17.40(m).
[79 FR 30428, May 27, 2014]
authority: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (March 3, 1973), 27 U.S.T. 1087; and Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended,
16 U.S.C. 1531
source: 72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 50 CFR 23.72