The listed products coming in and out of the EU will now have to be accompanied by export or import permits issued by EU countries [1]

The eight species - porbeagle, oceanic whitetip shark, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark and manta rays – were earmarked for protection in March 2013 and join three shark species - basking shark, great white shark, whale shark – on the CITES list.

Imports into the EU of CITES-listed sharks or ray products must be accompanied both by an import permit issued by the authorities of the country of import and an export permit issued by the CITES authorities of the exporting country.

The export from the EU of CITES-listed sharks or ray products requires that each shipment is accompanied by an export permit issued by the Member State authority of the country of export. Specimens caught on the high seas and landed in the same state to which the vessel is flagged, an "introduction from the sea" certificate will have to be issued instead of an export permit.

How will it work?

Legality: The applicant will provide documentary evidence that the specimens have been obtained in accordance with the legislation on the protection of the species concerned, and that the traceability of the products can be proven;

Sustainability: The CITES scientific authority of the Member State concerned has to be able to advise that the introduction into the EU would not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species, and that trade will not have a detrimental effect on the species survival.

Support from CITES:  A large amount of information has been made available by the CITES Secretariat on all aspects of the implementation of the CITES-listed sharks: http://cites.org/eng/prog/shark/index.php

Background

The entry into force of the listings will occur on 14 September 2014. The decisions have been implemented into EU law via the inclusion of those species in Annex B to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 ("EU Wildlife Trade Regulations") through Regulation (EC) No 750/2013.

For more information

For more information regarding implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/legislation_en.htm

[1] As per the conditions in Articles 4 and 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97