Parties are invited to:
a) consider the eCITES Implementation Framework in regard to its potential usefulness in planning and implementing electronic CITES systems and report back on which information is useful to their own particular efforts and what additional support is needed to address other issues affecting implementation such as governance structure, technical capacity, and law enforcement restrictions;
b) call upon donor agencies to take note of the interest of those Management Authorities from developing countries to adopt automated, electronic permit solutions and to provide funding for the implementation of these solutions;
c) consider the implementation of electronic CITES systems in a manner designed to increase transparency and efficiency of the permit issuance and control process, to prevent use of fraudulent permits, and to provide quality data for improved sustainability assessment;
d) take note of the UNCTAD aCITES system (Electronic CITES Certification System) as a low cost, off-the-shelf solution that is now available to Parties for implementation;
e) if using electronic CITES systems:
i) consider UN/CEFACT Recommendation 14 on Authentication of trade documents as good practice when implementing the electronic equivalent of signatures and seals for electronic CITES permitting systems and exchanges;
ii) authenticate each user who has access to the electronic system using username and passwords, and/or similar technologies, or both;
iii) ensure that electronic CITES systems keep an audit trail, i.e. keep electronic records (including, but not limited to, confirmation of transmission and receipt with associated time stamps and message headers) that enable the Management Authority to identify each person who requested, approved, processed, issued, endorsed, or altered electronic CITES permits and certificates;
iv) keep archives of audit trails for no fewer than five years after the expiry date of the permit or certificate, or no fewer than five years after the date that the trade was reported in the Party’s annual report, whichever is later;
v) provide the CITES Secretariat with copies of all valid electronic signatures it uses for issuance of permits and certificates in accordance with Article IX (4) of the Convention and paragraph 3 q) of Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP18) on Permits and certificates;
vi) notify the Secretariat immediately when authenticated users are removed or no longer authenticated; and
vii) recognize that in electronic CITES systems that meet the above requirements i) - iv), the electronic equivalent of a physical signature and seal may be provided through the authenticated identification of any of the following individuals: the permit applicant; the official who issued or authorized the permit or certificate; the official who altered the permit or certificate; the issuing authority; and the inspecting official who endorsed the permit or certificate;
f) establish a systematic dialogue and ongoing collaboration between their Management Authorities and their national customs and border control agencies to implement an efficient, risk-based control system for international trade in CITES-listed species where possible and appropriate; and
g) provide information to the Secretariat on the state of automation of CITES permit processes and the implementation of control systems for international trade in CITES- listed species and share their lessons learned.
a) consider the eCITES Implementation Framework in regard to its potential usefulness in planning and implementing electronic CITES systems and report back on which information is useful to their own particular efforts and what additional support is needed to address other issues affecting implementation such as governance structure, technical capacity, and law enforcement restrictions;
b) call upon donor agencies to take note of the interest of those Management Authorities from developing countries to adopt automated, electronic permit solutions and to provide funding for the implementation of these solutions;
c) consider the implementation of electronic CITES systems in a manner designed to increase transparency and efficiency of the permit issuance and control process, to prevent use of fraudulent permits, and to provide quality data for improved sustainability assessment;
d) take note of the UNCTAD aCITES system (Electronic CITES Certification System) as a low cost, off-the-shelf solution that is now available to Parties for implementation;
e) if using electronic CITES systems:
i) consider UN/CEFACT Recommendation 14 on Authentication of trade documents as good practice when implementing the electronic equivalent of signatures and seals for electronic CITES permitting systems and exchanges;
ii) authenticate each user who has access to the electronic system using username and passwords, and/or similar technologies, or both;
iii) ensure that electronic CITES systems keep an audit trail, i.e. keep electronic records (including, but not limited to, confirmation of transmission and receipt with associated time stamps and message headers) that enable the Management Authority to identify each person who requested, approved, processed, issued, endorsed, or altered electronic CITES permits and certificates;
iv) keep archives of audit trails for no fewer than five years after the expiry date of the permit or certificate, or no fewer than five years after the date that the trade was reported in the Party’s annual report, whichever is later;
v) provide the CITES Secretariat with copies of all valid electronic signatures it uses for issuance of permits and certificates in accordance with Article IX (4) of the Convention and paragraph 3 q) of Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. CoP18) on Permits and certificates;
vi) notify the Secretariat immediately when authenticated users are removed or no longer authenticated; and
vii) recognize that in electronic CITES systems that meet the above requirements i) - iv), the electronic equivalent of a physical signature and seal may be provided through the authenticated identification of any of the following individuals: the permit applicant; the official who issued or authorized the permit or certificate; the official who altered the permit or certificate; the issuing authority; and the inspecting official who endorsed the permit or certificate;
f) establish a systematic dialogue and ongoing collaboration between their Management Authorities and their national customs and border control agencies to implement an efficient, risk-based control system for international trade in CITES-listed species where possible and appropriate; and
g) provide information to the Secretariat on the state of automation of CITES permit processes and the implementation of control systems for international trade in CITES- listed species and share their lessons learned.