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Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS)

About CITES

About CITES and how it regulates international trade

Last updated 16 December 2025

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) (opens in new tab) is an international agreement that ensures wildlife species are not threatened to extinction by trade. 

CITES regulates international trade of CITES-listed live animals and plants, including their parts and derivatives, by requiring CITES permits to be obtained before consignments are allowed to leave or enter a country. This requirement applies to both businesses and individuals. 

Singapore has been a Party to CITES since November 1986. More than 180 countries across the globe are CITES Parties. These countries restrict trade of endangered species listed in CITES Appendix I and regulate and monitor trade of species in CITES Appendix II and III. 

In Singapore, NParks is the national authority that implements and enforces CITES regulations. For information on CITES authorities in other countries, please refer to the official CITES website (opens in new tab).  

CITES Classification of Endangered Species 

CITES classifies endangered species under three categories. 

Appendix I 

The species listed in Appendix I face a high risk of extinction if their trade is not severely restricted. Thus, trade of these species for commercial purposes is generally prohibited. 

Exceptions are captive-bred species from CITES-registered captive breeding farms, which can only be traded after traders have obtained the relevant CITES permits. 

Non-commercial trade of CITES Appendix I-listed species is assessed on a case-to-case basis. These permits are issued under special circumstances to organisations such as zoological institutions, botanical gardens, scientific or research facilities, and museums. 

Examples of Appendix I species

  • Apes 

  • Certain species of monkeys 

  • Elephants 

  • Rhinoceroses 

  • Tigers 

  • Marine turtles 

  • Most species of bears 

  • Pangolins 

  • Certain species of parrots 

  • Lady’s slipper orchid 

Appendix II 

The species listed in Appendix II may be threatened with extinction if trade of these species is not regulated. Trade in these species is allowed only after traders have obtained the relevant CITES permits. 

Examples of Appendix II species

  • Certain species of monkeys 

  • Crocodiles 

  • Pythons 

  • Monitor lizards 

  • Parrots 

  • Tortoises 

  • Certain species of freshwater turtles 

  • Sturgeons 

  • Bird-wing butterflies 

  • Seahorses 

  • Hard corals 

  • Giant clams 

  • Certain species of sharks 

  • American ginseng 

  • Certain species of orchid 

  • Ramin 

  • Agarwood 

  • Rosewood

Appendix III 

Species listed in Appendix III are endangered in some countries. To import these species, you need a Certificate of Origin from the exporting/re-exporting country.

If the species originates from a country that lists it on CITES Appendix III, you will need a CITES permit from the country of export and a CITES import permit from NParks to import it into Singapore. 

Examples of Appendix III species

  • Wild water buffalo 

  • Walruses 

  • Mongooses 

  • Certain species of deer 

  • Pheasants 

  • Foxes 

  • Certain species of turtles

For a complete list of CITES-listed animal and plant species, refer to the CITES Appendices (opens in new tab).  

Visit the CITES gallery (opens in new tab) for pictures of CITES-listed species. 

Travellers entering Singapore may download our CITES brochure [PDF, 1.8MB] (opens in new tab) for further information on bringing CITES-listed species into Singapore. 

The Mandarin version of the CITES brochure [PDF, 599KB] (opens in new tab) also contains information on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) trade in Singapore.