CITES removes trade controls on finished products containing Candelilla Wax
MARCH. 18/2010.-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. This company, as the largest exporter of Candelilla wax worldwide, was in attendance and they 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.
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)).
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/15/prop/E-15-Prop-25.pdf