1 CITES e-permitting and Single Windows Single Window Conference, 2015 Brazzaville, Congo CITES Secretariat

1.What is CITES? 2.Why e-permitting and Single Windows? 3.How – CITES e-permitting approach Today’s talk

CITES: conservation and trade “CITES stands at the intersection between trade, environment and development, … ensures that no species in international trade is threatened with extinction” (Outcome document Rio+20)

Over 35,000 species* are regulated by CITES Species listed on 3 Appendices How CITES works * Live, dead, parts, and derivatives Appendix 1 International commercial trade is generally prohibited Appendix International commercial trade is allowed but regulated

How CITES works 3% of species A multi billion-dollar business Parties issue >1 million permits per annum 97% of species

Essentials of CITES regulation Trade must be legal Trade must be sustainable Trade must be traceable –CITES Permits and Certificates (common standards) –Trade must be reported (CITES Trade Database) (CITES “Model export permit”, Annex 2, Resolution Conf. 12.3)

CITES interest in e-permitting CITES permits and certificates represented a mature, stable, universally recognized and adopted system BUT… a number of developments were impacting on this environment

Increasing volume of CITES trade

Over 15 million trade records (CITES Trade Database)

Increasing use of information technology

Global trends: ‘paperless’ trade & Single Window Customs processing

Increasing e-commerce

Increasing scale of illicit wildlife trade

Illegal wildlife trade Increasing scale – USD million per year for illicitly-traded wildlife and forest products Changing nature – an organized, transnational crime with criminal networks involved Both outside and within CITES regulatory system

CITES response CoP13 (2004) – long-term strategy for CITES e-permitting through a phased approach Aiming for multiple benefits –Simplified, more efficient permit processes –Improved security, less opportunities for false permits –Improved service to applicants –Improved monitoring of trade –Improved reporting

CITES e-permitting approach Develop e-permitting Toolkit Align to international standards Promote use of Toolkit Investigate central registry for e-permit data Convene CITES Working Group on e-permitting Update CITES ‘policy’ to reflect e-permitting TOOLS GOVERNANCE 1a 1b1c Promote integration with SWE 1d

e-permitting Toolkit Establishes common standards and CITES e-permitting ‘data model’ –Describes CITES business processes –Common information exchange processes –XML schemas –Security & digital signatures 1a

Alignment to international standards CITES e-permitting harmonized with: –WCO Data Model –UN/CEFACT Core Component Library –UN/CEFACT Codes for Trade –Single Window environments (section 3.5) Integration with the ASYCUDA World System is underway 1b

Promoting use of e-permitting CITES MAs of Switzerland and UK pilot project on use of CITES electronic systems ACTO is working with CITES Secretariat to implement CITES e-permitting among Member Countries (€10 million project) 1c

Promoting use of e-permitting Work with the Air Transport Association (IATA) on e-freight project delivered by carriers, forwarders and Customs Aims to eliminate the need for all paper documents in air cargo shipments Discussing integration of CITES e-permitting 1c

Illegal wildlife trade uses legal transport routes – ivory trade TRAFFIC assessment of ETIS seizure data, data reported to 65th meeting of CITES Standing Committee

Promoting use of e-permitting Funding proposal developed to offer LDCs a CITES e-permitting out-of-the-box solution 1c

Support inclusion of CITES e-permit systems in Single Windows ? 35% of Parties developing e-permitting systems 1d

CITES Party interest in e-permitting Netherlands Kenya

Support inclusion of CITES e-permit systems in Single Windows ? 35% of Parties developing e-permitting systems Many countries also developing or expanding Single Windows Capitalize on opportunities to dematerialize CITES permits for inclusion in Single Windows 1d

Example: Mexico CITES e-permitting integrated in Single Window Facility for Mexican Foreign Trade (VUCEM) From 1 June 2015 CITES MA adopted amended permit issuance procedures (e.g. e-signature) 1d

Example: Mozambique SGS is supporting Mozambique to expand its Single Window  more government agencies Potential for CITES MA to get support to dematerialize CITES permit data for inclusion Opportunity to ‘kick-start’ CITES e-permitting 1d

Central registry for CITES e-permits Enables full electronic system  paperless trade Party-to-Party verification and revision of CITES permit information Bilateral efforts - France and Switzerland, CITES and Customs making CITES business process fully electronic ASYCUDA World - CITES module and registry 2

CITES e-permitting Working Group Parties: Brazil, Belarus, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Guatemala, Japan, Monaco, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland (Chair), Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Viet Nam Observers: UNCTAD, UNEP-WCMC, WCO 3

CITES Resolution 12.3 Originally drafted with assumption that all permits would be paper – standard permit form Revised to accommodate electronic permits and digital signatures Recognizes importance of continued alignment to international standards Recommends Parties consider use of e-permits 4

Emerging issue: traceability Many CoP Decisions related to traceability Discussing the development of a global track- and-trace umbrella framework for wildlife Ultimately interested in a global standard for traceability of wildlife under UN/CEFACT Selected traceability identifier can then be integrated into CITES e-permitting system

Including CITES in Single Windows? Reach out to CITES MA to discuss – dematerialization of CITES permits – inclusion of CITES e-permitting in Single Window CITES Secretariat takes a coordination role and can help facilitate liaison with CITES MAs Primary CITES contact: Marcos Regis Silva Chief, Knowledge Management & Outreach

33 Thank you