 CITES removes trade controls on finished products containing Candelilla Wax
The CITES member States have removed trade controls for all finished products containing Candelilla wax (extracted from Euphorbia antisyphilitica). At the recent meeting of CITES’ Conference of the Parties, which took place in Doha, Qatar, it was decided that finished products ready for retail sales like lipsticks, creams and other cosmetic products would be exempt from trade controls.
The resolution was the result of a joint effort between representatives of the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Multiceras. As the largest exporter of Candelilla wax worldwide, we were in attendance and we actively participated in the discussions that preceded the final resolution.
The previously mentioned organizations have been working together to remove the trade controls. Their success is an important development for Mexico, because it is the only country that produces Candelilla wax and more than 20,000 Candelilla harvesters and their families depend on the product for their livelihood. This resolution is likely to increase the import of Candelilla wax by the USA, Europe and Asia.
Candelilla wax is used by more than 20 industries worldwide, with major markets in the European Union, the USA and Japan. Its distinctive properties make it an essential ingredient in the manufacture of cosmetics and many other products, such as inks, dyes, adhesives, coatings, polishes, gum-base and certain pharmaceutical products.
A detailed summary of the formal CITES proposal and specific issues discussed over the course of the decision making process follow. The text of the proposal itself is below, including changes (a), recommendations made by the Secretariat with regard to Cactaceae seeds; and (d) recommendations made at CoP15 by Spain, to ensure that the exception for fruits, parts and derivatives thereof is not more restrictive than annotation #4 which this would replace it.¹
The proposal was ACCEPTED at CoP15 by Committee I on March 17, 2010 (as recorded on pages 2-3 of CoP15 Com. I Rec. 5 (Rev. 1)).
The amended proposal as ADOPTED in plenary (as recorded on page 3 of CoP15 Plen. 6) reads as follows, where the bracketed language in (a) was apparently not formally accepted by Com. I or adopted in plenary. Under CITES rules, this newly adopted policy goes into effect 90 days after the last day of CoP15, which is June 23, 2010.
“Delete annotations #1 and #4 and replace them both with the following new annotation for plant taxa listed in Appendix II. All parts and derivatives, except:
 a) seeds (including seedpods of Orchidaceae), spores and pollen (including pollinia). The exemption does not apply to those seeds from Cactaceae spp. exported from Mexico [and seeds from Beccariophoenix madagascariensis and from Dypsis decaryi exported from Madagascar];
b) seedlings or tissue cultures obtained in vitro, in solid or liquid media, transported in sterile containers;
c) cut flowers of artificially propagated plants;
d) fruits and parts and derivatives thereof of naturalized or artificially propagated plants of the genera Vanilla (Orchidaceae) and of the family Cactaceae;
e) stems, flowers, and parts and derivatives thereof of naturalized or artificially propagated plants of the genera Opuntia subgenus Opuntia and Selenicereus (Cactaceae); and
f) finished products of Euphorbia antisyphilitica packaged and ready for retail trade."²
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The direct link to the CITES information is given here:
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/15/prop/E-15-Prop-25.pdf
If is there any questions regarding issue we would be more than happy to answer them:
| Avril Zamora |
International Business Manager |
azamora@multiceras.com |
| Carlos Aldana |
International Business Coordinator |
caldana@multiceras.com |
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Notes:
¹McGuffin, M. (2010) CITES addresses international commerce of finished products containing candelilla wax (Euphorbia antisyphilitica). American Herbal Products Association.
² CITES, (2010) CoP15: Convention on international trade in endangered Species of wild fauna and flora. Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties Doha (Qatar), 13-25 March 2010. Consideration of Proposals for amendment of appendices I and II.
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