18.11.2022
At the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) currently taking place in Panama, the Ipe and the Cumaru have been listed in CITES Appendix II with an implementation deadline of 24 months. The genus Khaya, Pterocarpus spp. (Padouk) and Afzelia (Doussie) were listed on November 18 in CITES Appendix II with an implementation deadline of 90 days.
As a reminder, international trade in specimens of Appendix II species may be permitted and must be covered by an export permit or re-export certificate. CITES does not require an import permit for these species (although a permit is required in some countries that have taken stricter measures than those provided for by the Convention).
The CITES procedure indicates that each species proposal is dealt with by a preliminary committee, with the possibility of being brought forward for final consideration in plenary at the end of the conference on or around 25 November. Nevertheless, the Committee approved proposals to add Ipe and Cumaru to CITES Appendix II with an extended implementation period of 24 months, and to add African Mahogany, Padauk and Doussie to Appendix II with a standard implementation period of 90 days.
Ipe: The Ipe has been a contentious debate, with opposition led mainly by Brazil and Bolivia, and support coming mainly from Colombia, the EU and Argentina. After much procedural back and forth, the Ipe was listed by a vote of 86 in favour, 17 against and 18 abstentions. The US opposed. The plenary is expected to approve the amended proposal to list ipé in Annex II with an implementation period of 24 months next week.
Cumaru: The discussion on Cumaru was even longer than that on Ipe, with parties requesting additional time overnight to try to find a compromise. Opposition was led by Brazil, Bolivia and Guyana. Colombia, the EU, Panama and the UK supported. The debate was very contentious, with parties debating the list as well as the implementation period. Peru suggested an implementation period of 24 months, several others indicated 18 months, and the EU suggested 12 months, while the UK maintained the traditional 90-day implementation period. The Chair asked the supporting parties to discuss overnight how to find a compromise, and early yesterday morning the supporting parties agreed to a 24-month implementation period. The proposal to add the Cumaru to CITES Appendix II with a 24-month implementation period was approved by a vote of 74 in favour, 13 against and 18 abstentions. The US opposed. It is expected that the plenary will approve the amended proposal to list the Cumaru in Appendix II with a 24-month implementation period next week.
Khaya: On November 18 the Committee considered a proposal to add the genus Khaya spp. to CITES Appendix II. The European Union, one of the proposing countries, opened the discussion by indicating that it would be open to a 12-month implementation period, but unfortunately, no nation has indicated that it supports an extended implementation period. As motions can only be made by nations' delegations the standard 90 day implementation period should be maintained.
Padauk: When considering the proposal to include the African populations of the genus Pterocarpus spp. in Appendix II, a number of range states shared their support for the proposal with no state indicating opposition. As a result, the proposal was adopted by consensus, with the normal implementation period of 90 days.
Doussie: During the review of the proposal to include the African populations of the genus Afzelia. in Appendix II, a number of range states shared their support for the proposal with no state indicating its opposition. Consequently, the proposal was adopted by consensus, with the normal implementation period of 90 days.
Summary: A full list of the timber species added to CITES is included below with their respective implementation periods (counted from the day of adoption by the CITES CoP19 plenary, expected late next week):
Annotation #17 covers logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, plywood and processed wood.
Dipteryx spp (Cumaru) with annotation #17 - 24 months
Afzelia (Doussie) African populations with annotation #17 - 90 days
Handroanthus spp./Roseodendron spp./Tabebuia spp. with annotation #17 - 24 months
Khaya spp. African populations with annotation #17 - 90 days
Pterocarpus spp. (Padouk) African populations with annotation #17 - 90 days
