European Commission amends Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 338/97 to reflect CITES CoP20 listings
EU CITES authorities, customs and wildlife traders must apply replaced Annex A–D listings from 29 June 2026.
Change
On 22 June 2026 the EU adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/1383 replacing the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 with updated Annexes A–D to reflect CITES CoP20 listings; it is binding and enters into force on the third day after publication in the Official Journal of 26 June 2026.
Why it matters
The replaced Annex changes the legal listing status of multiple taxa across Annex A (strictest protection), Annex B, Annex C and Annex D, creating new permit requirements, zero-export quotas and labelling and annotation obligations directly binding in all Member States. Species transferred into Annex A lose Annex B trade treatment and become subject to the strictest controls. Several inclusions carry deferred application dates that postpone the obligations for those specific taxa until the stated later dates, including 5 June 2027.
Implications
- — EU CITES Management Authorities issuing permits must apply the updated Annex A–D when granting, refusing or conditioning CITES permits and certificates for specimens and derivatives — issuing permits inconsistent with the replaced Annex contravenes Regulation (EC) No 338/97.
- — EU customs authorities and import/export compliance teams must screen and classify consignments against the replaced Annex from entry into force and withhold consignments lacking the permits the new listings require — failure to apply the Annex risks unlawful release of regulated specimens.
- — EU importers and exporters of specimens and derivatives must obtain the required permits and comply with zero-quota and annotation requirements, or cease commercial trade in taxa moved into Annex A or restricted by annotations — trading contrary to the Annex constitutes unlawful trade under the Regulation.
Who is affected
- — EU CITES Management Authorities issuing permits and certificates
- — EU customs authorities and import/export compliance teams
- — EU wildlife and plant traders (importers and exporters of specimens and derivatives)
What to watch
- — Effective 29 June 2026 — the replaced Annex A–D becomes binding across Member States (third day after Official Journal publication of 26 June 2026).
- — Effective 5 June 2027 — specified deferred listings (including Pelophylax epeiroticus, P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, P. shqipericus, Galeorhinus galeus, Mustelus spp., Centrophoridae spp. and Holothuria lessoni) become subject to the Annex obligations.