50 C.F.R. § 23.6
Under Article IX of the Treaty, each Party must designate a Management and Scientific Authority to implement CITES for that country. If a non-Party wants to trade with a Party, it must also designate such Authorities. The names and addresses of these offices must be sent to the Secretariat to be included in the Directory. In the United States, different offices within the FWS have been designated the Scientific Authority and Management Authority, which for purposes of this section includes FWS Law Enforcement. When offices share activities, the Management Authority is responsible for dealing primarily with management and regulatory issues and the Scientific Authority is responsible for dealing primarily with scientific issues. The offices do the following:
| Roles | U.S. Scientific Authority | U.S. Management Authority |
| (a) Provide scientific advice and recommendations, including advice on biological findings for applications for certain CITES documents, registrations, and export program approvals. Evaluate the conservation status of species to determine if a species listing or change in a listing is warranted. Interpret listings and review nomenclatural issues. | x | |
| (b) Review applications for CITES documents and issue or deny them based on findings required by CITES. | x | |
| (c) Communicate with the Secretariat and other countries on scientific, administrative, and enforcement issues. | x | x |
| (d) Ensure that export of Appendix-II specimens is at a level that maintains a species throughout its range at a level consistent with its role in the ecosystems in which it occurs and well above the level at which it might become eligible for inclusion in Appendix I. | x | |
| (e) Monitor trade in all CITES species and produce annual reports on CITES trade. | x | |
| (f) Collect the cancelled foreign export permit or re-export certificate and any corresponding import permit presented for import of any CITES specimen. Collect a copy of the validated U.S. export permit or re-export certificate presented for export or re-export of any CITES specimen. | x | |
| (g) Produce periodic Article VIII, paragraph 7(b) reports on legislative, regulatory, and administrative measures taken by the United States to enforce the provisions of CITES. | x | |
| (h) Coordinate with State and tribal governments and other Federal agencies on CITES issues, such as the status of native species, development of policies, negotiating positions, and law enforcement activities. | x | x |
| (i) Communicate with the scientific community, the public, and media about CITES issues. Conduct public meetings and publish notices to gather input from the public on the administration of CITES and the conservation and trade status of domestic and foreign species traded internationally. | x | x |
| (j) Represent the United States at the meetings of the CoP, on committees (see subpart G of this part), and on CITES working groups. Consult with other countries on CITES issues and the conservation status of species. Prepare discussion papers and proposals for new or amended resolutions and species listings for consideration at the CoP. | x | x |
| (k) Provide assistance to APHIS and CBP for the enforcement of CITES. Cooperate with enforcement officials to facilitate the exchange of information between enforcement bodies and for training purposes. | x | x |
| (l) Provide financial and technical assistance to other governmental agencies and CITES officials of other countries. | x | x |
50 C.F.R. §23.6