The FSVO is the authority responsible for enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (also known as the Washington Convention) in Switzerland. This means that, in keeping with this Convention, animals and plants that are endangered worldwide are protected from extinction in Switzerland too.
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Final species protection provisions of the CITES Conference of the Parties CoP19 enter into force on 26 November 2024
Important decisions were taken at the 19th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Panama City in November 2022, for example further timber species and additional shark and reptile species have been added to the CITES Appendices.
The latest changes to the protection of animal and plant species in international trade concern the timber species Cumaru and Ipé of the genera Dipteryx spp., Handroanthus spp., Roseodendron spp. and Tabebuia spp. and will come into force on 26 November 2024. Below are the most important changes and what they mean:
Tougher penalties for illegal trade in protected plants and animals
From 1 March 2022, tougher criminal sanctions will apply to the illegal trade in internationally protected animal and plant species. The Federal Council passed an amendment of the relevant federal act and implementing provisions on 26 January 2022. Serious cases of illegal trade will now be treated as crimes.
How does regulation of the trade in reptiles help protect them? - La Minuterie
The basis for implementation of the Washington Convention is the Federal Act on the Trade in Protected Animal and Plant Species, FA-CITES (Bundesgesetz über den Verkehr mit Tieren und Pflanzen geschützter Arten).
This Act regulates the import and export of protected species of animals and plants as well as products made from them.
Enforcement of the CITES Convention
CITES is an international trade convention designed to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of animal and plant populations. The species conservation legislation (FA-CITES, the CITES Ordinance and the CITES Control Ordinance) permits enforcement that is structured in a risk-based and flexible manner in accordance with international obligations and developments.
The CITES Expert Committee is on hand to advise the FSVO and answer any scientific questions relating to CITES.
Other enforcement duties relating to species conservation
Pursuant to FA-CITES, animal and plant species are deemed to require protection if they are harvested from nature or traded to an extent that could endanger the sustainable use of natural stocks.
In this regard, the FSVO is also entrusted with other tasks aimed at enforcing international species conservation in Switzerland.
Protecting whales
As a member of the International Whaling Commission, Switzerland aims to play the role of a reliable mediating partner.
National species conservation
Switzerland actively promotes species conservation, both internationally and nationally, by enforcing domestic laws and international conventions.
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is responsible for protecting native animal and plant species. The cantons and communes, as well as private organisations, also make valuable contributions by establishing conservation areas, among other endeavours.
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Last modification 04.11.2024
