(a) Secretariat. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. Its functions are listed in Article XII of the Treaty and include:

(1) Arranging and staffing meetings of the Parties.

(2) Performing functions as requested in relation to listings in the Appendices.

(3) Undertaking scientific and technical studies, as authorized by the CoP, to contribute to implementation of the Convention.

(4) Studying reports of the Parties and requesting additional information as appropriate to ensure effective implementation of the Convention.

(5) Bringing to the attention of the Parties matters relevant to the Convention.

(6) Periodically publishing and distributing to the Parties current editions of the Appendices as well as information on the identification of specimens of species listed in the Appendices.

(7) Preparing annual reports to the Parties on its work and on the implementation of the Convention.

(8) Making recommendations for the implementation of the aims and provisions of the Convention, including the exchange of scientific and technical information.

(9) Performing other functions entrusted to it by the Parties.

(b) Committees. The Parties have established three committees to provide administrative and technical support to the Parties and to the Secretariat. The CoP may charge any of these committees with tasks.

(1) The Standing Committee steers the work and performance of the Convention between CoPs.

(i) This committee oversees development and execution of the Secretariat's budget, advises other committees, appoints working groups, and carries out activities on behalf of the Parties between CoPs.

(ii) Regional representatives are countries that are elected by their respective geographic regions at the CoP.

(2) The Animals Committee and the Plants Committee provide advice and guidance to the CoP, the other committees, working groups, and the Secretariat on all matters relevant to international trade in species included in the Appendices.

(i) These committees also develop and maintain a standardized list of species names; provide assistance with regard to identification of species listed in the Appendices; cooperate with the Secretariat to assist Scientific Authorities; compile and evaluate data on Appendix-II species that are considered significantly affected by trade; periodically review the status of wildlife and plant species listed in the Appendices; advise range countries on management techniques when requested; draft resolutions on wildlife and plant matters for consideration by the Parties; deal with issues related to the transport of live specimens; and report to the CoP and the Standing Committee.

(ii) Regional representatives are individuals, who are elected by their respective geographic regions at the CoP.

(iii) The CoP appoints a specialist in zoological nomenclature to the Animals Committee and a specialist in botanical nomenclature to the Plants Committee. These specialists are ex officio and non-voting, and are responsible for developing or identifying standard nomenclature references for wildlife and plant taxa and making recommendations on nomenclature to Parties, the CoP, other committees, working groups, and the Secretariat.

[72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, as amended at 79 FR 30429, May 27, 2014]

(a) Purpose. Article XI of the Treaty provides general guidelines for meetings of the countries that have ratified, accepted, approved, or acceded to CITES. The Parties currently meet for 2 weeks every 3 years. At these meetings, the Parties consider amendments to the Appendices and resolutions and decisions to improve the implementation of CITES. The Parties adopt amendments to the lists of species in Appendix I and II and resolutions by a two-thirds majority of Parties present and voting. The Secretariat or any Party may also submit reports on wildlife and plant trade for consideration.

(b) CoP locations and dates. At a CoP, Parties interested in hosting the next meeting notify the Secretariat. The Parties vote to select the location of the next CoP. Once a country has been chosen, it works with the Secretariat to set the date and specific venue. The Secretariat then notifies the Parties of the date for the next CoP.

(c) Attendance at a CoP. All Parties may participate and vote at a CoP. Non-Party countries may participate, but may not vote. Organizations technically qualified in protection, conservation, or management of wildlife or plants may participate in a CoP as observers if they are approved, but they are not eligible to vote.

(1) International organizations must apply to the CITES Secretariat for approval to attend a CoP as an observer.

(2) National organizations must apply to the Management Authority of the country where they are located for approval to attend a CoP as an observer.

As we receive information on an upcoming CoP from the CITES Secretariat, we will notify the public either through published notices in the Federal Register or postings on our website (see § 23.7). We will provide:

(a) A summary of the information we have received with an invitation for the public to comment and provide information on the agenda, proposed amendments to the Appendices, and proposed resolutions that they believe the United States should submit for consideration at the CoP.

(b) Information on times, dates, and locations of public meetings.

(c) Information on how international and national organizations may apply to participate as observers.

(a) In developing documents and negotiating positions for a CoP, we:

(1) Will provide for at least one public meeting.

(2) Consult with appropriate Federal, State, and tribal agencies; foreign governmental agencies; scientists; experts; and others.

(3) Seek public comment through published Federal Register notices or postings on our website that:

(i) Solicit recommendations on potential proposals to amend the Appendices, draft resolutions, and other documents for U.S. submission to the CoP.

(ii) Announce proposals to amend the Appendices, draft resolutions, and other documents that the United States is considering submitting to the CoP.

(iii) Provide the CoP agenda and a list of the amendments to the Appendices proposed for the CoP, a summary of our proposed negotiating positions on these items, and the reasons for our proposed positions.

(4) Consider comments received in response to notices or postings provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section.

(b) We submit the following documents to the Secretariat for consideration at the CoP:

(1) Draft resolutions and other documents at least 150 days before the CoP.

(2) Proposals to amend the Appendices at least 150 days before the CoP if we have consulted all range countries, or 330 days before the CoP if we have not consulted the range countries. For the latter, the additional time allows for the range countries to be consulted through the Secretariat.

(c) The Director may modify or suspend any of these procedures if they would interfere with the timely or appropriate development of documents for submission to the CoP and U.S. negotiating positions.

(d) We may receive additional information at a CoP or circumstances may develop that have an impact on our tentative negotiating positions. As a result, the U.S. representatives to a CoP may find it necessary to modify, reverse, or otherwise change any of those positions when to do so would be in the best interests of the United States or the conservation of the species.

(a) Purpose. Under Article XI of the Treaty, the Parties agree to resolutions and decisions that clarify and interpret the Convention to improve its effectiveness. Resolutions are generally intended to provide long-standing guidance, whereas decisions typically contain instructions to a specific committee, Parties, or the Secretariat. Decisions are often intended to be implemented by a specific date, and then they expire.

(b) Effective date. A resolution or decision adopted by the Parties becomes effective 90 days after the last day of the meeting at which it was adopted, unless otherwise specified in the resolution or decision.