e-6537 (Environment)

Canada has been a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora since its inception in 1975. Through this Convention, a total of 185 nations worldwide work together to ensure international trade does not threaten wildlife species, including by working with range States and destination countries in efforts to address issues. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora aims to ensure that international wildlife trade is sustainable by implementing a strict system of permits.  

Canada supports legal trade of species when it is founded on principles of conservation and sustainable use. At the last meeting of the Standing Committee to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Parties reviewed information related to the export of Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) from Cambodia.

The long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are commonly used by biomedical research companies in Canada as well as universities and other scientific research institutions. These entities rely on this species for their vaccine, disease, medical and other scientific research. This species is protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily currently threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. Species listed in Appendix II require an export permit issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. Canada upholds this system for imports, exports and re-exports, and rigorously enforces federal laws that conserve and protect wildlife to detect violations and take enforcement action. In Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for verifying compliance with permits from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Environment and Climate Change Canada has not seen evidence that export permits issued by Cambodia for the import of long-tailed macaques in Canada were falsified by claiming wild-caught monkeys were captive-bred. As per the obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, export countries are expected to exercise the required due diligence. These include verifying the legal origin of the exported specimens as well as ensuring there is no detriment to the survival of the species in the wild.

At the February 2025 Standing Committee meeting, the Secretariat of the Convention, proposed suspending trade of macaques from Cambodia until the Parties are satisfied that there is sufficient information indicating that the captive-bred macaques exported are indeed captive-bred. The Standing Committee did not support this proposal and rather asked the Secretariat to verify concerns with a site visit to Cambodia and to report to the 79th meeting of the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee meeting will take place on November 23, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Canada is waiting to see the report from the Secretariat and the decisions of the Standing Committee before taking any action. Canada takes its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora very seriously and will continue to follow this discussion closely.

We thank you for your interest on this matter.