2017/9015/N
EC/EFTA
NO Norwegen
  • S60E - Flora und Fauna
2017-12-15
2017-09-15

The subject and primary objective of the regulation, which is protection of biological diversity, falls outside the scope of the EEA Agreement. However, some of the products covered by the CITES regulation are also products covered by the EEA agreement. The regulation is therefore in its entirety notified on a voluntary basis for information purposes.

Regulation on the import, export, re-export and transfer or possession of threatened species of wild flora and fauna (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES)

The new Norwegian CITES regulation is intended to follow up the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as well as decisions made by the Conference of the Parties. The EU Wildlife Trade Regulation (338/97) is not incorporated into the EEA Agreement. In most cases, the Norwegian regulation nevertheless follows the same approach.

As CITES is a minimum convention, the Parties are given the opportunity to set stricter domestic rules. For some areas, Norway will make use of the opportunity to set stricter domestic rules. Thus, there will, inter alia be required CITES import permits for the import of Appendix II species in addition to the convention requirements of a CITES export permit. In addition to the import, export and re-export, also the internal trade of specific CITES species within Norway will require a CITES certificate. The requirements for internal CITES certificate covered are species covered by the regulations Appendix 1, list A and certain list B species as specified in Appendix 3 of the regulation. In addition to an internal Norwegian CITES certificate, the named species has to be tagged or otherwise marked. Covering internal trade the regulation also opens for the use of domestic supervision, in addition to the boarder control. Lastly, the penal provision opens for stricter measures than the current regulation.

Contrary to the EU legislation, the Norwegian regulation doesn’t have an Appendix D (species not covered by the convention). Furthermore, none of the CITES-listed species are uplisted. However, this will be possible after a scientific review of the species has been conducted.