Why is EPIX necessary?
The objectives of EPIX are to allow Management Authorities to: – share permit data electronically in near-real time – submit online queries on permits issued by their own or other Management Authorities – submit annual reports automatically to UNEP-WCMC Currently, there can be a significant time delay from the point of actual trade occurring to the submission of official annual reports on permits issued and their inclusion in the online CITES Trade database. This delay can be up to 18 months for EU Member States and 22 months for other CITES Parties. If Parties require information on permits issued by other Parties before annual reports are available, they must consult bilaterally. This can be time consuming and lead to the multiplication of effort. Through an online query and verification system, EPIX will provide a mechanism to facilitate the expedite exchange of permit information. Thus, EPIX will enable, for example: – Customs authorities in countries with multiple entry ports to v
