Trade in endangered species (CITES)
The CITES Convention contains rules to protect about 5,800 animal species and 30,000 plant species. It is an international agreement aimed at regulating trade in protected species. You will be confronted with the CITES rules if you want to trade or transport certain species of animals or plants. Or products or parts of the same.
These rules are also applicable in the Caribbean Netherlands and to transport between the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. About 200 species listed on Appendix I or II of CITES are found in the Caribbean Netherlands. Here you can find communication materials developed about the CITES species in the Caribbean Netherlands.
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) decides whether to grant a permit. On the RVO website, you will find information that can help you determine as to whether your species is a CITES species and what permit you require. Please note, unlike the European Netherlands, the Caribbean Netherlands does not fall under EU regulations.
Species in the Caribbean Netherlands may be more strictly protected by local regulations than under CITES. An example is the 'karko' shells of Bonaire. According to CITES, you can take a maximum of 3 without permit, however the shells are completely protected under local regulations.
Apply for CITES permit
Applications for imports or exports can be submitted to: cites@rvo.nl.
You can find more information about CITES and the application for a permit on www.rvo.nl