LEGAL ACQUISITION FINDINGS

The document outlines a comprehensive framework for CITES Management Authorities to verify the legal acquisition of fauna and flora. It details the preparation of national guidelines, the assessment of chain of custody documentation, and the application of risk-based verification techniques to prevent illegal wildlife trade.

• A Legal Acquisition Finding (LAF) is a mandatory prerequisite for the issuance of a CITES export permit, requiring the Management Authority (MA) to be satisfied that the specimen was not obtained in contravention of the laws of the State for the protection of fauna and flora.
• The LAF process centers on the 'Chain of Custody,' which is the chronological documentation of transactions from the point of removal from the wild through to the subsequent ownership of the specimen.
• Management Authorities are encouraged to use a risk assessment approach to determine the level of scrutiny required for a permit application, balancing factors such as the CITES Appendix listing, the source of the specimen, geographical factors (e.g., armed conflict), and the monetary value of the specimen.
• For tree species, a comprehensive chain of custody verification should include evidence of land tenure, harvest rights, compliance with harvest conditions (such as annual allowable cuts), payment of taxes, and adherence to third-party rights.
• The handbook identifies specific red flags for captive-bred or ranched specimens that warrant heightened scrutiny, including facilities established too recently to produce slow-maturing species or production levels that exceed the reproductive potential of the parental stock.
• For specimens introduced from the sea (IFS), MAs should verify that the acquisition was consistent with international law for the conservation of marine resources and did not involve illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing activity.
• The handbook recommends that national LAF guidelines be made publicly available to improve accountability and transparency, ensuring that permit applicants understand the specific documentation required to prove legal acquisition.
• If an MA determines a specimen was obtained in contravention of laws, it must not issue the permit and should notify relevant enforcement bodies, such as national police and prosecutors, for potential seizure and confiscation.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2021). LEGAL ACQUISITION FINDINGS. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Legal-Acquisition-Findings-Handbook_English.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. LEGAL ACQUISITION FINDINGS. 2021. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Legal-Acquisition-Findings-Handbook_English.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=LEGAL ACQUISITION FINDINGS |date=2021 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Legal-Acquisition-Findings-Handbook_English.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2021legal, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{LEGAL ACQUISITION FINDINGS}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2021}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Legal-Acquisition-Findings-Handbook_English.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }