Maldives Customs conducts workshop on CITES

Maldives Customs Service has conducted a workshop on Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

The certificates to the participants were presented by the Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim and the Commissioner General of Taxation Abbas Adhil Riyaz at the ceremony at Customs today.

The CITES act is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Environment and Energy said that it is very important that the customs are familiar with the CITES act.

“So when everything comes into our country, it should be identifiable since the first point of contact is customs. And we usually know who is bringing things on the CITES list.” Minister Thoriq said. He also said that Customs is the service that sends that information to the environment ministry.

Thirty-one member of the custom’s staff participated in the CITES workshop.

The Maldives took part in the CITES act in 2013.