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New EPIX tool from UNEP-WCMC to help to implement CITES

UNEP-WCMC presented its vision for the new Electronic Permit Information Exchange system (EPIX) to support CITES Parties to share wildlife trade permit information at the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP17) in Johannesburg.

Parties are being encouraged to help shape the future development of EPIX and trial the system, which will be a vital aspect of implementing CITES.

EPIX is being developed by UNEP-WCMC in collaboration with the CITES E-Permitting Working Group, the CITES Secretariat, UNEP, the Government of Switzerland and other CITES Parties. It will also facilitate automated reporting of trade data directly into the CITES Trade Database which will support on-going monitoring of trade in CITES-listed species.

EPIX will allow countries to electronically and in near-real time share information with each other and to share with the world better and more timely statistics on the global trade in plants and animals. Nearly 17 million trade transactions involving CITES-listed species have been recorded since 1975.

This verification and detection functionality will provide Parties with an essential tool in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, while paving the way for increased transparency and sustainability of legal international wildlife trade.

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