Notice2025-15664
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Twentieth Regular Meeting; Provisional Agenda; Announcement of Public Meeting
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Published
August 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service
Abstract
To implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or the Convention), the Parties to the Convention meet periodically to review what species in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of CITES implementation. The twentieth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, November 24-December 5, 2025. Currently, the United States is developing its negotiating positions on proposed resolutions, decisions, and amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals), as well as other agenda items that have been submitted by other Parties, the permanent CITES committees, and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP20. With this notice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the provisional agenda for CoP20, solicits your comments on the items on the provisional agenda, and schedules a public meeting to seek comments on the items included in the provisional agenda.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 157 (Monday, August 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 157 (Monday, August 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40075-40077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15664]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2024-0033; FXIA16710900000-256-FF09A30000]
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Twentieth
Regular Meeting; Provisional Agenda; Announcement of Public Meeting
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: To implement the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or the Convention),
the Parties to the Convention meet periodically to review what species
in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of CITES
implementation. The twentieth regular meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to CITES (CoP20) is scheduled to take place in Samarkand,
Uzbekistan, November 24-December 5, 2025. Currently, the United States
is developing its negotiating positions on proposed resolutions,
decisions, and amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals),
as well as other agenda items that have been submitted by other
Parties, the permanent CITES committees, and the CITES Secretariat for
consideration at CoP20. With this notice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) announces the provisional agenda for CoP20, solicits
your comments on the items on the provisional agenda, and schedules a
public meeting to seek comments on the items included in the
provisional agenda.
DATES:
Public meeting: The public meeting will be held on September 10,
2025, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Comment submission: In developing the U.S. negotiating positions on
species proposals and proposed resolutions, decisions, and other agenda
items submitted by other Parties, the permanent CITES committees, and
the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP20, we will consider
written information and comments you submit if we receive them by
September 17, 2025.
ADDRESSES:
Public meeting: The public meeting will be held in the Stewart Lee
Udall Department of the Interior Building at 1849 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20240. Directions to the building can obtained by
contacting the Division of Management Authority (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). For more information about the meeting, see
``Announcement of Public Meeting'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Comment submission: You may submit comments pertaining to items on
the provisional agenda for discussion at CoP20 by one of the following
methods:
(1) Electronically: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments on FWS-HQ-IA-2024-0033 (the docket
number for this notice).
(2) U.S. mail: Submit by U.S. mail to Public Comments Processing;
Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2024-0033; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
MS: PRB (JAO/3W); 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We will not accept email or faxes. Comments and materials we
receive, as well as supporting documentation, will be available for
public inspection on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information pertaining to
resolutions, decisions, and other agenda items, contact Naimah Aziz,
Head, Division of Management Authority, at 703-358-2028 (telephone);
703-358-2276 (fax); or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#acc1cdc2cdcbc9c1c9c2d8cdd9d8c4c3dec5d8d5eccadbdf82cbc3da"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cf1fdf2fdfbf9f1f9f2e8fde9e8f4f3eef5e8e5dcfaebefb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a> (email). For
information pertaining to species proposals, contact Thomas E.
Leuteritz, Acting Head, Division of Scientific Authority, at 703-358-
1708 (telephone); 703-358-2276 (fax); or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70031319151e0419161913110504181f02190409301607035e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0774646e6269736e616e646672736f68756e737e4761707429606871">[email protected]</span></a>
(email). Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard
of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States
[[Page 40076]]
should use the relay services offered within their country to make
international calls to the point of contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora, hereinafter referred to as CITES or the Convention, is
an international treaty designed to control and regulate international
trade in certain animal and plant species that are or may be affected
by trade and are now, or potentially may become, threatened with
extinction. Species are included in the Appendices to CITES, which are
available on the CITES Secretariat's website at <a href="https://www.cites.org">https://www.cites.org</a>
and at 50 CFR 23.91(a) (How do I find out if a species is listed?). The
official CITES list includes species of wildlife and plants placed in
Appendix I, II, and III in accordance with the provisions of Articles
XV and XVI of the Convention. This list is maintained by the CITES
Secretariat (Secretariat) based on decisions of the Parties. You can
access the official list from the CITES website (see section 23.7) and
at 50 CFR 23.7(f).
Currently there are 185 Parties to CITES--184 countries, including
the United States, and one regional economic integration organization,
the European Union. The Convention calls for regular biennial meetings
of the Conference of the Parties unless the Conference decides
otherwise. At these meetings, the Parties review the implementation of
CITES, make provisions enabling the Secretariat in Switzerland to carry
out its functions, consider amendments to the species included in
Appendices I and II, consider reports presented by the Secretariat, and
make recommendations for the improved effectiveness of CITES. Any
country that is a Party to CITES may propose amendments to Appendices I
and II, as well as resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for
consideration by all the Parties. The Service's regulations governing
this public process are found in title 50 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 23.87.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), in part,
implements CITES and incorporates its Appendices of CITES-listed
species into U.S. law (see, 16 U.S.C. 1532(4), 1537a, 1538(c), 1538(g),
1539(g), 1540(f)), and the Service has promulgated U.S. CITES
implementing regulations (see 50 CFR part 23). The Secretary of the
Interior is designated the U.S. Management Authority and U.S.
Scientific Authority for CITES purposes, and the respective functions
of each are carried out by the Service. The ESA prohibits, among other
things, any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to
engage in any trade in any specimens contrary to the provisions of the
Convention, or to possess any specimens traded contrary to the
provisions of the Convention. U.S. CITES implementing regulations
explain the administration of CITES, the CITES listing process, the
effective dates of CITES listings, and where to find official CITES
documents and the CITES Appendices, as set forth in 50 CFR 23.7 and
23.84-23.91.
At least 150 days before any meeting of the Conference of Parties
to CITES (CoP)is held, any Party may submit a proposed amendment to
Appendix I or II (e.g., for a species to be included in, removed from,
or transferred between the CITES Appendices (CITES Art. XV(1)(a); 50
CFR 23.87(b)(2)). The Secretariat then makes publicly available and
provides all Parties a list of proposed amendments (CITES Art.
XV(1)(a), (2)(c); 50 CFR 23.7(f)(5)). Pursuant to 50 CFR 23.7 and
23.86, as we receive information on the upcoming CoP, we notify the
public through Federal Register notices or on our website. The CoP can
adopt amendments to Appendices I and II by a two-thirds majority vote
of those Parties in attendance. Appendix-I and -II species listings
adopted at the CoP are effective 90 days after the last day of the CoP,
unless otherwise specified in the proposal.
This is our third notice in a series of Federal Register notices
that, together with the announced public meeting, provides the public
with an opportunity to participate in the development of U.S.
negotiating positions for CoP20. We published our first CoP20-related
Federal Register notice on March 22, 2024 (89 FR 20489), in which we
requested information and recommendations on animal and plant species
proposals, and information and recommendations on proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items for the United States to consider
submitting for consideration at CoP20, and provided preliminary
information on how to request approved observer status for
nongovernmental organizations that wish to attend the meeting.
We published our second CoP20-related Federal Register notice on
December 26, 2024 (89 FR 105074). In that notice, we responded to
recommendations received from the public concerning proposed amendments
to the CITES Appendices (species proposals) and proposed resolutions,
decisions, and agenda items that the United States might submit for
consideration at CoP20. We also invited public comments and information
on these potential proposals and working documents and provided
information on how U.S. nongovernmental organizations can attend CoP20
as observers.
These two prior CoP20 Federal Register notices are in the docket
(FWS-HQ-IA-2024-0033) at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. A link to these
notices, along with information on U.S. preparations for CoP20, can
also be found at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/international-affairs/cites/cop20">https://www.fws.gov/international-affairs/cites/cop20</a>.
On June 27, 2025, the United States submitted to the CITES
Secretariat, for consideration at CoP20, its species proposals,
proposed resolutions, proposed decisions, and other agenda items. These
documents are listed on the CITES Secretariat's website at <a href="https://cites.org/eng/cop20">https://cites.org/eng/cop20</a>.
Announcement of Provisional Agenda for CoP20
The provisional agenda for CoP20 is available on the CITES
Secretariat's website at <a href="https://cites.org/eng/cop/20/agenda-documents">https://cites.org/eng/cop/20/agenda-documents</a>.
The working documents associated with the items on the provisional
agenda, including proposed resolutions, proposed decisions, and
discussion documents, can be found at that location. To view the
working document associated with a particular agenda item, locate the
item on the provisional agenda, and click on the document link in the
column titled ``Files.'' The proposals to amend Appendices I and II can
be accessed at <a href="https://cites.org/eng/cop/20/amendment-proposals">https://cites.org/eng/cop/20/amendment-proposals</a>.
Announcement of Public Meeting
We will hold a public meeting to seek comments on the items
included in the provisional agenda for CoP20. The public meeting will
be held on the date specified in DATES. We will post additional
information regarding the public meeting on our website at <a href="https://www.fws.gov/international-affairs/cites/cop20">https://www.fws.gov/international-affairs/cites/cop20</a>, including how to
register for the meeting, and how to indicate if you intend to provide
comments during the meeting.
Public Comments
You must submit your information and comments to us no later than
the date specified in DATES, above, to ensure that we consider them. We
will not consider comments sent by email or fax, or to an address not
listed in ADDRESSES. Comments submitted electronically using the
Federal eRulemaking Portal
[[Page 40077]]
must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the closing date.
Comments and materials received will be posted for public
inspection on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (see ADDRESSES). Our practice
is to post all comments, including names and addresses of respondents,
and to make comments, including names and home addresses of
respondents, available for public review. There may be circumstances in
which we would withhold from public review a respondent's name and/or
address, as allowable by law. If you wish for us to withhold your name
and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of
your comment, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We
will make all comments and materials submitted by organizations or
businesses, and by individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>
at Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2024-0033.
Future Actions
Through another notice and website posting in advance of CoP20, we
will announce the tentative U.S. negotiating positions on species
proposals, proposed resolutions, proposed decisions, and agenda items
that were submitted by other Parties, the permanent CITES committees,
and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP20.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Michelle Turton, CITES Policy
Specialist, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Justin J. Shirley,
Principal Deputy Director, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the
Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-15664 Filed 8-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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