Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Endangered Species Act regulates the trade of certain plants and animals in order to protect them from threat and extinction. CITES classifies species into three categories:

 

• Appendix I: These species are the most strictly regulated due to being close to extinction. Permits for export cannot be issued unless there is a special circumstance, and they cannot be used for commercial purposes.

• Appendix II: These species are classified as threatened.

• Appendix III: These species are deemed necessary to monitor in order to prevent the species’ exploitation.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services work closely to enforce CITES, making sure that importers and exporters have the appropriate permits for trading these animals or products.