February 15, 2005
Archived February 25, 2005

Subject: Lifting of Trade Restrictions on CITES-Listed Wildlife from Liberia

Background:  On May 5, 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received notice from the CITES Secretariat that Liberia, and several other nations, failed to adopt required regulatory and legislative measures and satisfactorily implement and enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) upon import, export, and re-export.

Upon receipt of this information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implemented a trade ban on CITES species from Liberia effective May 5, 2004.

On December 20, 2004 the CITES Secretariat received copies of CITES permits issued by Liberia during the years 1997-2004. Which were integral in completing the required annual reports for Liberia.

Action: Effective immediately, the trade ban on CITES species from Liberia has been lifted. The United States will allow the import, export, and the re-export of CITES species with Liberia. Trade restrictions on CITES species from the other countries, which were implemented on May 5, 2004, remain in effect.

Contact:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Office of Law Enforcement
703-358-1949 703-358-2271 (fax)