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CITES: UK Scientific Authority

Noel McGough speaking at a CITES Conference of  the Parties

RBG Kew provides scientific support and advice to the UK Government to allow it to fulfil commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the European Union Wildlife Trade Regulations. The main tasks of the Scientific Authority are:

·        to provide independent scientific advice (including a non-detriment finding) to the UK CITES Management Authority (Defra) on applications for CITES permits and on the implementation and application of CITES and the European Union Regulations implementing CITES within member States;

·        to undertake research into key plant groups affected, or that may become affected, by trade and CITES legislation;

·        to work with and train enforcement officials on the inspection, holding and disposal of detained or seized CITES material; and

·        to represent the Scientific Authority at technical meetings including the CITES Plants Committee, Conference of the Parties and the Scientific Review Group of the European Union.

This work is covered by a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Defra which lays down detailed outputs and milestones on an annual basis. The outputs include: advice on 5-6,000 permit applications per year, plant inspections, briefing documents and position papers, attendance at meetings and international negotiations, training material for UK enforcement officials, trained individuals.

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