50 CFR § 23.85 - What is a meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP)?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t50/s23.85"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "50 CFR § 23.85 - What is a meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP)?"
title_number: 50
title_name: "Wildlife and Fisheries"
section_number: "23.85"
section_name: "What is a meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP)?"
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "TAKING, POSSESSION, TRANSPORTATION, SALE, PURCHASE, BARTER, EXPORTATION, AND IMPORTATION OF WILDLIFE AND PLANTS"
part_number: "23"
part_name: "CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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"
regulatory_source: "72 FR 48448, Aug. 23, 2007, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "23"
---


# 23.85 What is a meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP)?

(a) *Purpose.* Article XI of the Treaty provides general guidelines for meetings of the countries that have ratified, accepted, approved, or acceded to CITES. The Parties currently meet for 2 weeks every 3 years. At these meetings, the Parties consider amendments to the Appendices and resolutions and decisions to improve the implementation of CITES. The Parties adopt amendments to the lists of species in Appendix I and II and resolutions by a two-thirds majority of Parties present and voting. The Secretariat or any Party may also submit reports on wildlife and plant trade for consideration.

(b) *CoP locations and dates.* At a CoP, Parties interested in hosting the next meeting notify the Secretariat. The Parties vote to select the location of the next CoP. Once a country has been chosen, it works with the Secretariat to set the date and specific venue. The Secretariat then notifies the Parties of the date for the next CoP.

(c) *Attendance at a CoP.* All Parties may participate and vote at a CoP. Non-Party countries may participate, but may not vote. Organizations technically qualified in protection, conservation, or management of wildlife or plants may participate in a CoP as observers if they are approved, but they are not eligible to vote.

(1) International organizations must apply to the CITES Secretariat for approval to attend a CoP as an observer.

(2) National organizations must apply to the Management Authority of the country where they are located for approval to attend a CoP as an observer.