CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement that regulates trade in animals, plants and products derived from them. Signed in Washington in 1973 and in force from 1975, it lists species in appendices according to the level of protection they need, and its rules apply to antiques as well as to modern goods.
For dealers and collectors, CITES matters whenever an object contains a protected material, such as elephant ivory, tortoiseshell, rhinoceros horn, certain corals, whalebone or Brazilian rosewood. Moving such items between countries may require permits, and some countries apply stricter domestic laws; in the United Kingdom, for example, the Ivory Act 2018 bans most dealing in elephant ivory, with narrow exemptions. Within the European Union and United Kingdom, worked specimens acquired before 1947 have historically been treated differently, but the rules change and should always be checked with the relevant authority before buying, selling or shipping. Good documentation, expert identification of materials and clear provenance are essential. A piece of rosewood furniture or a box with ivory inlay may need paperwork that a buyer abroad will expect a reputable seller to supply.
