An international agreement between governments
Entered into force in 1975 and India became the 25th party
in 1967.
Its aim is to ensure that international trade in wild animal
and plant specimens does not endanger their survival.
Although Parties are legally binded by the CITES – states/parties
have to implement the Convention - it does not take the place of national laws.
The CITES Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland and
it is administered by UNEP. The CITES is the supreme decision making body of
the Convention and comprises all its parties.
It has three appendices:
Appendix I - It includes species threatened with extinction. These
species are permitted to trade only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II - It provides a minimal level of protection.
Appendix III - It contains species that are protected in at least
one of it's country, which has asked other CITES Parties (countries) for
assistance in controlling trade.