AHPA to attend CITES Plants Committee meeting in Geneva

• By: AHPA
• On: 06/02/2023 06:47:06
• In: AHPA News

June 2, 2023

The 26^th meeting of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Plants Committee will convene next week, June 5-9, in Geneva, Switzerland. Jane Wilson, Director of Program Development, will represent the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) at the meeting. This will be the tenth CITES Plants Committee meeting – in addition to two Conference of the Parties meetings – that AHPA has attended as an authorized observer since the association initiated direct involvement with CITES in 2002.

 
CITES is an international agreement that became effective in 1975 and currently includes 182
countries and the European Union as members (known as “Parties”). CITES establishes specific requirements for plant and animal species that are intended to protect the listed species from extinction, endangerment, and exploitation in international trade.
 
Of significance to AHPA members and the wider industry are CITES-listed botanical species used in dietary supplements and other natural products that are subject to CITES controls. Most recently, at the 19^th Conference of the Parties in November 2022, all species of Rhodiola spp. were added to CITES Appendix II, and the listing became effective as of February 2023.
 
“CITES listing of plant species have a direct impact on manufacturers and marketers of products containing these botanicals as ingredients,” explained Wilson. “It is crucial to keep our members informed of CITES requirements that may impact their supply and sourcing, and we are committed to doing so by attending CITES Plants Committee meetings and developing guidance materials.”
 
AHPA first published its CITES primer in November 2013 to provide an understanding of the processes and practices that must be followed to be in compliance when importing and exporting CITES-listed species. The primer was recently updated to reflect newly listed species, including rhodiola, and is available to AHPA members at no cost.
 
Additionally, AHPA hosted a webinar entitled “CITES Impact on Your Supply Chain” in January 2023 to provide an overview of CITES and the listing of rhodiola. The webinar features a Q&A session with a representative from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the federal agency designated to carry out the provisions of CITES in the U.S, and is available to access on-demand.