Commercial import programs

You can only commercially import declared specimens derived from CITES Appendix II species if they have been either:

• artificially propagated
• captive bred
• sourced from an operation that has been approved as a commercial import program.

Whether a specimen is artificially-propagated or captive bred is determined by the CITES management authority of the exporting country. The export permit issued by the exporting country will include a source code for each specimen. Captive bred specimens will have a source code 'C' and artificially-propagated specimens will have a source code 'A'.

Importers must also have an export permit issued by the Department.

Apply for a permit

Approved commercial import programs

To be approved, a commercial import program must provide reasonable control over the amount of harvesting and trading of the species. The program must also monitor the population and level of trade of the harvested species, and detect and minimise illegal trade. Approval is only given where the Australian Government Minister for the Environment is satisfied that traded wildlife from the program will not be detrimental to survival of the species. In making a decision on a commercial import program, the minister must consider any advice provided by the CITES scientific authority of the exporting country - that export of specimens of a species will not be detrimental to survival of the species.

Commercial import programs currently recognised under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are listed below.