International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 13 of 2023.

These Regulations, made by the Minister under section 74 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972, apply to all animal and plant species listed in the Appendices I, II, and III of CITES as published by the CITES Secretariat on the Convention's official website. The Regulations define the following terms: bred in captivity; certificate of origin; controlled environment; cultivated parental stock; country of origin; export quota; introduction from the sea; import and export of species; international trade; label; permit or certificate; captive-breeding operations; species. Matters covered by these Regulations include: powers of the Forestry Department of the Ministry as the Management Authority; establishment of the Head of Biological Sciences, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone as the Scientific Authority; enforcement agency; conditions for international trade and import and export permits, including: presentation of export permit, minimisation of risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment; specific requirements for introduction from the sea of any specimen of a species listed in Appendix I; measures concerning import and export of specimens of species listed in Appendix II and III; registration and marking measures; transit and transshipment; offences and penalties; confiscation and disposal of confiscated specimens; financial provisions and establishment of the Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Concerning the powers and responsibilities of the Management Authority, the Regulations detail the following: granting permits and certificates in accordance with the provisions of the CITES Convention; communicating with the CITES Secretariat and other parties on scientific, administrative, enforcement and other issues related to the implementation of the Convention; maintaining records of international and illegal trade in specimens and preparing and submitting annual reports concerning such trades; coordinating the preparation of an implementation report on legislative, regulatory and administrative measures taken to enforce the Convention; coordinating national implementation and enforcement of the Convention; cooperating with the authority in charge of fisheries matters and ensuring coordination in the execution of activities concerning international trade in commercially exploited activities of the CITES listed aquatic species; ensuring consultation with scientific authority on matters relating to the implementation of the Convention; approving and monitoring captive-breeding operations in consultation with the Scientific Authority and providing information to the CITES Secretariat for the registration of each captive-breeding operation that breeds under Appendix I; facilitating the scientific exchange of specimens in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention and these Regulations; providing for register with the CITES Secretariat, after consultation with the Scientific Authority, nurseries that artificially propagate specimens of plant species for export purposes; ensuring management and disposal of illegally traded and confiscated specimens of CITES listed species; designating one or more rescue centres to look after the welfare of seized and confiscated living specimens; representing Sierra Leone at regional and international meetings related to the Convention.
Concerning powers and duties of the Scientific Authority, these Regulations focus on: advising the Management Authority on proposed export of a specimen of species listed in Appendix I or II of the Convention and on its consequences for the survival of the involved species; monitoring the export permits granted for specimens of species listed in Appendix II and advising the Management Authority of suitable measures to be taken to limit the issue of export permits; evaluating the standards of scientists and scientific institutions seeking registration for scientific noncommercial exchange; advising the Management Authority on any matter considered relevant in the sphere of species protection.