CITES and national regulatory requirements 

Compliance Framework for Producers, Processors, and Exporters

I. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)

Agarwood-producing species (Aquilaria & Gyrinops) are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning:

1. International trade is allowed BUT strictly regulated.

Trade requires permits and proof that the products are legally sourced and sustainably harvested.

2. Key CITES Permit Requirements

For export of any Agarwood material (chips, oil, beads, seedlings, saplings, extracts):

  • CITES Export Permit
  • Issued only after Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) by the Scientific Authority
  • Proof of legal origin / traceability documents
  • Inventory verification
  • Production & harvest records

3. Products Requiring CITES Permits

✔ Raw wood
✔ Agarwood chips
✔ Powder
✔ Essential oil
✔ Resin
✔ Finished goods (perfumes, incense) only when containing identifiable wood resin
✔ Cultured / plantation-grown materials

4. CITES Exceptions

Some highly processed products may be exempt if no visible wood/resin remains, but Agarwood oils are always controlled.

II. Philippine National Regulatory Requirements

Multiple government agencies regulate Agarwood operations.
Below is the full compliance chain for plantation → harvest → processing → export.

1. DENR–Wildlife Resources Management (DENR-BMB)

Primary regulatory agency for Aquilaria.

Requirements for Plantation Establishment

  • Wildlife Culture Permit (WCuP) – required for cultivation, propagation, research, or breeding of Agarwood trees.
  • Wildlife Collector’s Permit (if collecting seeds or wild genetic materials)
  • Local Transport Permit (LTP) – for moving seedlings, logs, chips, oils, or any wildlife product.

For Harvesting & Processing

  • A Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR) – to prove legal ownership of trees.
  • Harvest Permit / Cutting Permit – only for registered plantation-grown trees.
  • Chain of Custody Documentation – farm records, tagging, GPS coordinates, age of trees.

For Export

  • Local Transport Permit (LTP)
  • CITES Export Permit
  • DENR–BMB Export Clearance
  • Inspection & verification of chips/oil prior to issuance.

2. EMB (Environmental Management Bureau)

Environmental compliance during plantation and processing operations:

Environmental Clearances:

  • CNC (Certificate of Non-Coverage) – for small plantations with minimal environmental impact.
  • ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate) – required for large-scale plantations, processing facilities, or extraction plants.

Supporting Requirements:

  • Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
  • Waste handling & storage
  • Air/water quality compliance (especially for oil extraction)

3. DTI / SEC / LGU

Business operations requirements:

Mandatory Documents:

  • Business Registration (SEC/DTI)
  • Mayor’s Permit
  • Barangay Clearance
  • Fire Safety Compliance
  • BIR Registration

4. Bureau of Customs (BOC) + Port Requirements

For export shipments:

  • Export declaration
  • Packing list & invoice
  • Phytosanitary certificate (from BPI, if needed)
  • CITES permit verification at port
  • Pre-shipment inspection
  • HS Codes for Agarwood products

5. Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI – DA)

When shipping plant materials such as:

✔ Seeds
✔ Seedlings
✔ Bark or leaves
✔ Extracts used for food / cosmetic use

Requirements:

  • Phytosanitary Certificate
  • Plant Quarantine Inspection

III. Full Compliance Workflow: Plantation to Export

A. Plantation Stage

  1. SEC/DTI registration
  2. Wildlife Farm Permit (WFP)
  3. Environmental clearance (CNC or ECC)
  4. Nursery registration (if producing seedlings)

B. Production & Management

  • Monthly and annual reports to DENR-BMB
  • Farm logbook: planting, mortality, growth, inoculation
  • GPS tagging of trees
  • Inventory audit before harvesting

C. Harvesting & Processing

  • Tree inventory submitted
  • Inspection by DENR
  • Cutting/harvest permit
  • CWR & WTP issued
  • Processing facility must have ECC/CNC
  • Records of resin extraction, oil distillation, and yield

D. Export Preparation

  • WTP to move products to exporter
  • CITES Export Permit (most important)
  • Quality analysis:
    • GC-MS
    • FTIR
    • Physical grading
  • Packing list, invoice, COO

E. Port Clearance

  • BOC
  • BMB
  • BPI (if applicable)
  • Final validation of CITES documents

IV. Best Practices: Making Compliance a Competitive Advantage

1. Blockchain-based Traceability

  • Tree-level tagging
  • GPS + QR + RFID system
  • Inoculation, harvest, and processing timestamps
  • Tamper-proof digital chain-of-custody
  • Buyers can scan QR to verify CITES-permitted origin

2. Certification Pathways

  • Organic certification
  • FairWild (for wild-sourced)
  • ISO 9001 (quality management)
  • ISO 14001 (environment management)
  • Halal certification (for Middle East markets)

3. Documentation Standardization

Prepare a Compliance Dossier for every batch:

  • Farm origin & coordinates
  • Owner & permits
  • Harvest license
  • Processing logs
  • Lab tests
  • CITES permit copy

This increases buyer trust in high-value markets (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, EU).

V. Summary

To legally produce and export Agarwood, the core requirements are:

Wildlife Farm Permit (WFP)
CITES Export Permit
CNC/ECC
Transport Permits (WTP)
Harvest/Cutting Permits
Inventory & traceability records
Business + Environmental + Port documents

These regulations protect the species, ensure sustainability, and establish legal supply chains—making your operations more credible to international investors and premium buyers.