Registration of CITES Up-listed Species

Registration of newly listed Annex A species

Following the 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties in August 2019, the following list of species have been included in Appendix I of the CITES Convention and Annex A of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations.

Species up-listed to Appendix I/ Annex A
Scientific name Common nameImage
Ceratophora erdeleniErdelen’s horned lizard
Ceratophora karuKaru’s horned lizard
Ceratophora tennentiiLeaf nosed lizard
Cophotis ceylanicaPygmy lizard
Cophotis dumbaraKnuckles pygmy lizard
Gonatodes daudiniGrenadines clowed gecko
Achillides chikae hermeliPeacock swallow tail butterfly
Parides burchellanusBrazilian Swallow tail butterfly
Aonyx cinereaAsian small clawed otter
Lutrogale perspicillataSmooth coated otter
Balearica pavoninaBlack crowned crane
Cuora bourretiBox turtle
Cuora picturataSouthern Vietnamese pond turtle
Cuora bourretiVietnamese pond turtle
Geochelone elegansIndian star tortoise
Malacochersus tornieriPancake tortoise*

Table 1: Species up-listed to Appendix i/ Annex A. Note: * Already in Annex A of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations since 1997

Trade of specimens (whole, live or dead, parts and derivatives) of species up-listed to Appendix I/ Annex A as listed in Table 1 above now requires relevant documentation including Article 10 Certificates in EU countries as well as CITES Import and Export Permits in case of trade with non-EU countries.

In case of possession of specimens (whole, live or dead, parts and derivatives) of any of the species in Table 1 above, these have to be registered with the Authority by 30th June  2020 by completing the process below. Persons in possession of such specimens are encouraged to apply immediately for the relevant Article 10 permit.


How to apply for Registration

1.      For every specimen, make sure to have the necessary proof of legal acquisition dating before entry into force of the regulation. This may be in the form of an invoice or transfer from the original owner.

2.      Make sure that specimen/s are uniquely marked in one of the following ways:

a.      By using ISO Standard unalterable microchips (in case of reptiles, and mammals or any avifauna which is not marked by a closed ring);  or

b.      uniquely marked seamless closed-rings (in case of avifauna). Avifauna already marked by a uniquely marked seamless closed-ring, do not requre to be microchipped.

3.      Download the Registration Form;

4.      Infill the form providing the proof of legal acquisition and photos of the specimens. In case of avifauna, photos of the ring is to be shown;

5.      Submit the form to ERA through the postal address, email or by hand.

ERA shall assess your application for registration and should it be accepted, shall issue a letter registering the specimen accordingly, which may follow with  an inspection of the specimen. Failure to register shall prohibit holders from any commercial activities related to these specimens.


Trade in Specimens newly listed in Annex B

Trade of specimens (whole, live or dead, parts and derivatives) of species up-listed to Appendix II/ Annex B as listed in Table 2 now requires relevant documentation in case of Import and Export permits issued by National CITES Management Authorities.

Species up-listed to Appendix II/ Annex B
Scientific name Common nameImage
Giraffa camelopardalisGiraffe
Syrmaticus reevesiiReeve's pheasant
Ceratophora asperaRough nosed horned lizard
Ceratophora stoddartiiStoddart's unicorn lizard
Lyriocephalus scutatusLyres head lizard
Goniurosaurus spp.Geckos
Gekko geckoToyak gecko
Paroedura androyensisGrandidier's Madagascar Ground gecko
Ctenosaura spp.Spiny tailed iguanas
Pseudocerastes urarachnoidesSpider-tailed horned viper
Echinotriton chinhaiensisChinhai spiny newt
Echinotriton maxiquadratusSalamander
Paramesotriton spp.Asian warty newts
Tylototriton spp.Crocodile newts
Isurus oxyrinchusShort-fin mako shark
Isurus paucusLong fin mako shark
Glaucostegus spp.Giant guitar fishes
Rhinidae spp.Shark/ rays
Holothuria fuscogilvaSea cucumbers
Holothuria nobilisSea cucumbers
Holothuria whitmaeiSea cucumbers
Poecilotheria spp.Tarantula spiders
Pterocarpus tinctoriusPadouk
Widdringtonia whyteiMulanje cedar tree
Cedrela sp.Cedar trees

Table 2: Species up-listed to Appendix II/ Annex B.


When do I need to apply for an Article 10 permit or Import/ Export/ Re-Export Permit

Any trade of specimens or item belonging to species within Table 1 within the EU needs to be covered by an Article 10 permit. In order to apply you need to submit the following:

1.      Download the Application form for Article 10 Certificates;

2.      Infill the form providing the registration permit issued by ERA, proof of legal acquisition and photos of the specimens. In case of avifauna, photos of the ring is to be shown;

3.      Submit the form to ERA through the postal address, by email, or by hand.

Any trade outside of the EU would need to be covered with an Import, Export or Re-export permit, depending on whether the specimen is entering Malta or leaving. In case of import into Malta the application needs to be covered by an export permit from the originating country, whereas the export or re-export would need to be accompanied by an import permit to the country of destination.

1.      Download the Application for CITES import/ export/ re-export permit;

2.      Infill the form providing the registration permit issued by ERA, proof of legal acquisition and photos of the specimens. In case of avifauna, photos of the ring is to be shown. In the case of an application for import provide an original copy of the export permit from the country of origin;

3.      Submit the form to ERA through the postal address, by email, or by hand together with the relevant fee on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00am tilll 12.00pm.


The Authority may take any necessary action should the above is not complied with.

For further information contact ERA on 2292 3500 or [email protected].