Watchdog protecting endangered species

Several decades ago, a number of countries recognized that excessive commerce risked becoming a serious threat for numerous species. It was thus that the "Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”, CITES for short, or the Washington Convention, was created in 1973.

This convention is a commercial agreement signed by 169 countries whose goal is conservation and the achievement of sustainable use of the animal and plant populations of our planet. It aims to monitor international trade of wild animal and plant specimens so that it does not threaten the survival of the species to which they belong. Since the trade of wild plants and animals goes beyond national borders, its regulation necessitates international cooperation to preserve certain species from overexploitation. CITES was conceived in this spirit of cooperation. Today, it protects (to varying degrees) over 30,000 wild species – whether they appear in trade in the form of live plants or animals or in the form of fur coats or dried herbs. To learn more ... (economic sheet, PDF 24 KB)

CITES certificates are issued by Federal Veterinary Office (FVO) and can be obtained directly through the CVCI for an additional fee of CHF 10

Information

Chambre vaudoise du commerce and de l'industrie (CVCI)
Mr. Serge Sahli
Avenue d'Ouchy 47, Case postale 315, 1001 Lausanne
Tel. +41 (21) 613 35 36 - Fax +41 (21) 613 35 05 - Email legal@cvci.ch

Office hours: 7:45 am - 12:00 pm and 1:30 - 5:00 pm (document issuing counter closes at 4:30 pm)