---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 C.F.R. § 23.33"
title: "50"
number: "23.33"
heading: "How is the decision made to issue or deny a request for a U.S. CITES document?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/50/23.33"
---

# §23.33. How is the decision made to issue or deny a request for a U.S. CITES document?

- (a) Upon receiving a complete application, we will decide whether to issue a CITES document by considering:
  - (1) The general criteria in [§ 13.21(b)](/cfr/50/13.21.md?p=b) of this subchapter and, if the species is protected under a separate law or treaty, criteria in any other applicable parts.
  - (2) The CITES issuance criteria provided in this subpart (see [subpart D](/cfr/50/subpartD.md) of this part for factors we consider in making certain findings).
- (b) As needed, the U.S. Management Authority, including FWS Law Enforcement, will forward a copy of the application to the U.S. Scientific Authority; State, tribal, or other Federal government agencies; or other applicable experts. We may also query the Secretariat and foreign Management and Scientific Authorities for information to use in making the required findings.
- (c) You must provide sufficient information to satisfy us that all criteria specific to the proposed activity are met before we can issue a CITES document.
- (d) We will base our decision on whether to issue or deny the application on the best available information.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (March 3, 1973), 27 U.S.T. 1087; and Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

### Source

Source: 72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, unless otherwise noted.