LEGISLATION
Applicable CITES Legislation
One of the obligations that derives from the CITES Convention is the enactment of national laws to implement the provisions of the Convention and the Resolutions adopted by the Conference of the Parties. Nonetheless, this does not prevent countries from adopting stricter national measures.
In the European Union, this obligation is met by means of community regulations to implement and develop the CITES Convention, and at the same time, to ensure harmonization throughout EU territory.
INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Appendices to the CITES Convention. The CITES Secretariat regularly publishes updates of the CITES Appendices currently in force on its website.
EU LEGISLATION
Spain directly implements EU legislation by applying Regulations (EC) 338/97 and 865/2006. The former is the basic regulation that lays out the general principles; the latter is the implementing Regulation, which lays down certain rules for implementation of the Basic Regulation. Both Regulations have been amended by subsequent Regulations that are listed below, and by the Suspensions Regulation, which prohibits the import of specimens of certain species into the EU.
Council Regulation (EC) 338/97 of 9th December 1996 on the protection of wild flora and fauna by regulating trade therein (OJ L61 on 03.03.97). The consolidated version of this Regulation includes the following amendments:
- Regulation (EC) 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 September 2003 adapting to Council Decision 1999/468/EC the provisions relating to committees which assist the Commission in the exercise of its implementing powers laid down in instruments subject to the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003).
- Regulation (EC) 398/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission (OJ L126/5, 21.05.2009).
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 750/2013 of 29 July 2013 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L212 on 07.08.2013).
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/2280 of 16 December 2021 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein and Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (OJ 473 on 30.12.2021).
Commission Regulation (EC) 865/2006 of 4 May 2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (OJ L166, 19.06.2006). The consolidated version of this Regulation includes the following amendments:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 100/2008 of 4 February 2008 amending, as regards sample collections and certain formalities relating to the trade in species of wild fauna and flora, Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 791/2012 of 23 August 2012 amending, as regards certain provisions relating to the trade in species of wild fauna and flora, Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 (OJ L242, 07.09.2012).
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 792/2012 of 23 August 2012 laying down rules for the design of permits, certificates and other documents provided for in Council Regulation (EC) 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein and amending Commission Regulation (EC) 865/2006 (OJ L242, 07.09.2012). NOTE: the use of these new forms has been mandatory since 27.09.2013.
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/2281 of 16 December 2021 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 as regards the addition of a new source code for plants from assisted production and related changes.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1587 of 24 september 2019 prohibiting the introduction into the Union of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora (DOL 248, 27.09.2019.) N.B.: Includes species for which import is currently prohibited in the EU. This Regulation repeals IR 2017/1915.
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2019/2117 of 29 November 2019 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein. This Regulation includes new Annexes A to D adopted after CoP18.
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
Instrumento de adhesión de España, de 16 de mayo de 1986, al Convenio sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (CITES). (Publicado en el BOE nº 181 de 30/07/1986).
Real Decreto 1333/2006, de 21 de noviembre, por el que se regula el destino de los especímenes decomisados de las especies amenazadas de fauna y flora silvestres protegidas mediante el control de su comercio (publicado en el BOE nº 286 de 30/11/2006). Modificado por el Real Decreto 986/2021 (publicado en el BOE nº 295 de 10/12/2021).
Disposición adicional segunda de la Ley 32/2007, de 7 de noviembre y modificada en junio de 2017, para el cuidado de los animales, en su explotación, transporte, experimentación y sacrificio (publicado en el BOE de 28/06/2017). NOTA: establece las tasas por la gestión y tramitación de permisos y certificados CITES.
Instrumento de Aceptación de la Enmienda al artículo XXI de la Convención sobre el comercio internacional de especies amenazadas de fauna y flora silvestre (Washington 3 de marzo de 1973), adoptada en Gaborone el 30 de abril de 1983 (publicado en el BOE 270 de 11/11/2013).
Real Decreto 7/2018, de 12 de enero, por el que se establecen los requisitos de documentación, tenencia y marcado en materia de comercio de especies amenazadas de fauna y flora silvestres, de acuerdo con lo establecido por la reglamentación de la Unión Europea en aplicación de la Convención sobre el comercio internacional de especies amenazadas de fauna y flora silvestre. Modificado por el Real Decreto 986/2021 (publicado en el BOE nº 295 de 10/12/2021).
Real Decreto 986/2021, de 16 de noviembre, por el que se establecen medidas de aplicación del Convenio sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (CITES), hecho en Washington el 3 de marzo de 1973, y el Reglamento (CE) nº 338/97, del Consejo, de 9 de diciembre de 1996, relativo a la protección de especies de fauna y flora silvestres mediante el control de su comercio (publicado en el 2021 (BOE nº 295 de 10/12/2021).
Resolución de 20 de enero de 2023, de la Subsecretaría, por la que se publica el Acuerdo de encomienda de gestión de la Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria al Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo, Secretaría de Estado de Comercio, para la realización de las verificaciones previas al despacho aduanero previstas en el Reglamento (CE) n.º 338/97, del Consejo, de 9 de diciembre de 1996, relativo a la protección de especies de fauna y flora silvestres mediante el control de su comercio (BOE nº 23 de 27/01/2023).
Resolución de 21 de noviembre de 2022, del Departamento de Aduanas e Impuestos Especiales, de la Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria, sobre la forma de declaración de los especímenes sujetos a la normativa del Convenio sobre el Comercio Internacional de Especies Amenazadas de Fauna y Flora Silvestres (BOE nº 30 de 4/02/2023).
CITES Sanction Laws
To implement Regulation (EC) 338/97, the Member States of the European Union should develop national laws that sanction any non-compliance with the provisions of CITES regulations. In Spain, the following laws have been enacted to that end:
- Organic Law 10/1995, of 23 November 1995 introducing the Criminal Code (amended several times). Published in State Gazette 281, 24.11.1995. Here you can find the consolidated version.
- Organic Law 12/1995, of 12 December 1995 to deter smuggling. Published in State Gazette 297, 13.12.1995. Here you can find the consolidated version. Amended by:Law 34/2015, of 21 September, partially amending Law 58/2003, of 17 December, General Tax Law. It only applies the 2nd Additional Disposition, which amends Organic Law 12/1995, of 12 December, to deter smuggling; specifically amends articles 4, 11 and 12.
- Royal Decree 1649/1998, of 24 July 1998 to develop Title II of Organic Law 12/1995 of 12 December 1995 to deter smuggling, with regard to smuggling-related administrative infractions. State Gazette 214, 07.09.1998.
- Organic Law 6/2011, of 30 June amending Organic Law 12/1995, of 12 December to deter smuggling. State Gazette 156, 01.07.2011. It amends the law to deter smuggling, is important in the light of new developments relating to the Modernised Customs Code. The Code expressly includes missions such as protecting the Community against illegal trade, and protection of the environment.