EIA seeks tighter wildlife trade oversight at upcoming CITES meeting

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is set to participate in the 81st meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Geneva, scheduled for November 2–6, 2026. The organization aims to influence international policy on the illegal trade of Asian big cats, elephants, rhinoceroses, and vaquita porpoises.

EIA is lobbying for the continuation of trade restrictions against Laos, citing inadequate progress in addressing organized wildlife trafficking networks and tiger farming practices. The group asserts that current enforcement efforts in the region fail to address the underlying supply chains and financial structures supporting the illicit market.

Beyond big cats, EIA is urging the committee to mandate more robust reporting protocols for elephant ivory seizures, noting that over 21 tonnes of ivory were intercepted across 15 major cases since 2023. The organization is also calling for trade sanctions against Mexico, arguing that the country has failed to sufficiently implement a compliance plan for the totoaba, a move essential to preventing the extinction of the vaquita porpoise.

The discussions in Geneva will review implementation progress from the 20th CITES Conference of the Parties. EIA maintains that captive-breeding of tigers remains a significant threat, as it complicates demand reduction and provides cover for the trade of wild-sourced animal parts.