CITES & Travelling with Parrots Canadian Parrot Conference 2015 Lise Jubinville Canadian Wildlife Service Environment Canada November 15, 2015

Purpose Provide high-level overview of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of fauna and flora (CITES). Explain how CITES works for parrots – permits, expectations for supporting documentation, breeding in captivity. Other regulations or country restrictions that impact cross- border travel.

Outline CITES Overview CITES Permit Procedures CITES Permit Issuance Other areas of concern for travel

What is CITES? CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora  International agreement, established in 1973, with over 180 member countries.  CITES establishes a legal framework with common procedural mechanisms to regulate international trade.  The intent is to ensure that international trade of specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.  National legislation is required in each country to implement the provisions of CITES provisions. 1 - CITES Overview

How CITES works in Canada The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) & Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations (WAPTR) are the legislative instruments with which Canada has implemented CITES. Environment Canada (EC) is the lead agency responsible for implementing CITES in Canada. Within EC, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) administers CITES and interacts with provincial, territorial and other federal agencies. CWS is responsible for managing the species listings in Canada and interacting with the international community. 1 - CITES Overview

The Roles within CITES Accountable for permitting decisions Manage, plan, develop and coordinate implementation of CITES Implementation coordination with other parties Management Authority (MA) Scientific determinations on risk to species survival Scientific advice to MA Species listings analysis and recommendation Scientific Authority (SA) Enforces provisions of WAPPRIITA Investigates and coordinates investigations with other agencies Provides wildlife identification expertise and develops identification manuals Enforcement Authority (EA) 1 - CITES Overview

CITES Species Listings The over 35,000 CITES-listed species are divided into 3 categories: Appendix I Species which are threatened with extinction (e.g. yellow-headed amazon, military macaw). International trade is generally PROHIBITED. Appendix II Species not necessarily threatened with extinction but trade must be controlled to avoid becoming threatened (e.g. red&green macaw, black-cheeked lovebird). International trade is REGULATED. Appendix III Species for which a country is asking Parties’ help with protection (e.g. walrus, aardwolf). International trade is MONITORED. 1 - CITES Overview

CITES & Parrots  All Psittaciformes, which includes over 350 species of Parrots, Parakeets, Macaws, Cockatoos, are listed in CITES with the following exceptions: –Rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) –Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) –Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) –Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri)  Most of the Psittaciformes are listed in Appendix II, with the some of the species in Appendix I. 1 - CITES Overview

CITES Permits Required Relocation of an Appendix I species CITES permit issued by the exporting country CITES permit issued by the importing country Import permit must be obtained before the export permit. Relocation of an Appendix II species CITES permit issued by the exporting country Frequent cross-border movement of personally owned pets (any Appendix) Simplified procedure using a CITES Certificate of Ownership (aka Pet Passport) 2 - CITES Permit Procedures

CITES Permit Decision Making A permit is granted when the following conditions are verified: 1.The export or import will not be detrimental to the survival of that species. 2.Specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of the country. 3.Any living specimen will be prepared and shipped as to minimize the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. 4.The proposed recipient of a living specimen is suitably equipped to house and care for it. 5.In the case of Appendix I species, the specimen will not be used for commercial purposes. 2 - CITES Permit Procedures

Which CITES permits do I need? If your home base is Canada and you are visiting other countries:  A certificate of ownership (Pet Passport) – valid for 3 years. If you are moving a parrot to another country or importing a parrot from another country:  Export and possibly import permits will be required.  Determine the Appendix listing of the bird. 1.Obtain the scientific name of the species. 2.Use the CITES checklist to find the Appendix listing.  Appendix I = export + import permits  Appendix II = export permit You need the permits BEFORE you cross the border! 2 - CITES Permit Procedures

CITES Checklist Lookup (sample) 2 - CITES Permit Procedures

Page 13 Requesting a CITES permit  Canada has national standardized application forms for requesting CITES permits. Categories of applications - Live animals, Harvested animal, Plants, Ginseng, Pet Passport, etc. ( Permit Application Forms) Instruction sheets are provided to help understand how to fill out the forms. Applications submitted via , fax or regular mail.  A CITES permit is granted following the assessment of the information provided in the application PLUS the required supporting documents. 3 - CITES Permit Issuance

Page 14 The completed, signed application form must address the following: –Details of the parties involved ▪Permittee – who is sending (for export) or receiving (on import) the specimen? ▪Consignee – who is receiving (for export) or sending (on import) the specimen? ▪Other country involved in the transaction – where is the specimen going to or coming from? –Purpose of the transaction ▪Why is this specimen being moved across a border? –Details of the species/specimens – identification ▪What is being moved across a border? –Legality ▪How did the permittee obtain the specimen? - ownership/acquisition ▪Where does the specimen come from? - origin/source/age –Details on transportation/housing/care ▪Necessary for live animals or plants Information required for permit request 3 - CITES Permit Issuance

Page 15 Proof of ownership/acquisition –Invoice or purchase receipt –Transfer of ownership –Microchip or banding certificate –Foreign CITES permits Proof of origin (source of specimen) –Foreign CITES export permit –Genealogy of specimen, with records of ancestry’s provenance –Breeder information –Hatch certificate Housing and Care –Diagrams or descriptions of facilities, including winter care –Feeding and veterinary care –Experience with same or similar species Transportation –International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards for air travel –CITES guidelines for the non-air transport of live animals and plants Supporting Documents Needed for Substantiating Request 3 - CITES Permit Issuance

Page 16 CITES Permit Sample 3 - CITES Permit Issuance Import and export permits as well as certificates of ownership all share same format. Top right corner indicates the document type.

Page 17 Cross-Border Movement Sheet for the Certificate of Ownership Used for the endorsement by Customs. Records all the exits and entries of the items. Similar to having your passport stamped when you travel. 3 - CITES Permit Issuance

Page 18 Health of Animals 4 – Other Areas of Concern The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates the entry and exit of live animals and plants. Consult them before you cross the border. They may also help identify the requirements from other countries.

Page 19 The US and their Requirements 4 – Other Areas of Concern US Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) The US WBCA was enacted in October 1992 to ensure that exotic bird species are not harmed by international trade and encourage wild bird conservation programs in countries of origin.  It is additional legislation above and beyond CITES. bird.html

Page 20 The US Requirements - continued 4 – Other Areas of Concern Crossing the US border – Inspection and Fees Wildlife imported into or exported from the United States for any purpose must be declared to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and cleared prior to release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The USFWS has a system of ports to allow for the import and export of wildlife. These ports are used for all movement of wildlife, including for commercial, non-commercial, scientific, or personal purposes. Certain port locations are designated to allow the international movement of any lawful wildlife, while other locations are restricted to allow only certain types of wildlife for certain purposes. Fees will be charged by the US, final cost depends on the port. Sample from fee chart

Page 21 New CITES posters available from CWS CITES Awareness and Information

Page 22 Resources for CITES information  Consult the website of the CITES Secretariat (definitive source of info on CITES) -  Find contact information for CITES offices in other countries.  Lookup species on the Checklist of CITES Species  Consult the Canadian CITES website -  the Canadian CITES office -  Call the Canadian CITES office CITES Awareness and Information

Page 23 Cheat Sheet for filling out Pet Passport Application Please excuse this old form with many bizarre and extraneous fields. This form is next on the list for modernization.  Section 1 – Application type = new application, renewal of an expired permit or replacement of an existing permit.  Section 2 – Trade Type – IGNORE  Section 3 – Name and Address A.Applicant = owner of the pet B.Destination – IGNORE  Section 4 - Purpose = reason for travelling with the pet (vacation, exhibitions/shows, living part-time in another country, other)  Section 5 - Description = tell us about your bird Addendum A

Page 24 Cheat Sheet for filling out Pet Passport Application Continuing….  Section 6 – Origin and Legality = tell us where you got your bird From the wild? From a breeding operation? Other? Attach copies of documents proving your story  Section 7 – Transport = tell us how you will be transporting your pet safely and humanely You can ignore the question about the number of crossings – it is irrelevant  Section 8 – Location of specimen – should be Canada, since you shouldn’t be asking for this document when you are stuck elsewhere! Addendum A