Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) seizures

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This indicator contains some alternative data to those specified by the United Nations (UN). This indicator is the most suitable match currently available.

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Headline data

Number of endangered species seizures
Year Value Observation status Unit multiplier Unit measure
2013 569.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2014 512.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2015 858.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2016 689.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2017 1076.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2018 1116.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2019 792.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2020 489.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized
2021 714.0 Normal value Units Number of times seized

Source: Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, and Immigration Enforcement

Geographical Area: United Kingdom

Unit of Measurement: Number of seizures

Footnote:

Data for 2019 does not include any seizures made at Gatwick airport during Q4, due to a change in reporting systems.

2020 figures were impacted by the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic (see 'Other Information' below).

Where figures have been surpressed in the source data, they have been removed. This means that in cases where all four quarters were surpressed, there is no data point available for that year.

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) seizures
Indicator description

This indicator provides the number of Border Force seizures of species, parts or derivatives of species, and products containing species that have been illegally imported.
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Unit of measurement

Number of seizures
Definitions

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) - An international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. CITES accords varying degrees of protection to more than 39,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.
Available disaggregations

Not available for this indicator
Calculations

Figures provided in Border Force transparency data are given on a quarterly basis. The four quarters of each year have here been summed to provide an annual figure, as number of seizures is considerably volatile.
Other information

The total number of seizures may not equate to the sum of the CITES seizures, due to the possibility of multiple seizures. A multiple seizure is where two or more category types (e.g. caviar and timber) are seized on a particular occasion. The occasion is counted once in the total number of seizures, but a seizure is counted against each category.

The data displayed on this page does not include specimens seized by the police inland which have passed through the UK border undetected. In addition, data for 2019 does not include any seizures made at Gatwick airport during Quarter 4, due to a change in reporting systems.

Seizure numbers in 2020 were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as there were extremely large reductions in both number of passengers and amount of cargo. In addition, enforcement work was disrupted by a stay-at-home order between March and August, and changes to work practices on return.

Volume of seizures by type are also available in the source data.

For further information on which species are protected by CITES please see UNEP checklist of CITES species, and for further information on trade in CITES species see the CITES Trade Database.

This indicator is being used as an approximation of the UN SDG Indicator. Where possible, we will work to identify or develop UK data to meet the global indicator specification. This indicator has not been identified in collaboration with topic experts.
Data last updated 18 January 2023
Metadata last updated 06 April 2023

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked
Target name

Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
Global indicator description

Not available for this indicator
UN designated tier

Tier II
UN custodian agency

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 15.7 opens in a new window
Organisation

Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, and Immigration Enforcement
Periodicity

Quarterly
Earliest available data

2013
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source Border Force transparency data opens in a new window
Release date 26 May 2022
Next release

See source link: We plan to update indicator data within 4 months of data being released
Statistical classification

Official Statistic
Contact details

Not available for this source
Other information

Table BF_04 Convention of international trade of endangered species (CITES) seizures.</p

The stated release date refers to the publication the current data was taken from. While this source is updated on quarterly basis, the indicator is updated annually.
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