Environment Canada reports that Mr. Khoa Tran Boa Le, of North York, Ontario, was fined $10,000 during proceedings at the Ontario Provincial courthouse in Mississauga on February 3, 2016. Mr. Le was found guilty of importing, without a permit, leather products made from animal species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). In addition to the fine, Le was ordered to forfeit all seized items.

On September 24, 2013, Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers carried out an inspection at Pearson International Airport on an imported shipment of leather items originating from Vietnam. The shipment contained accessories, including wallets and purses, made from python (Pythonidae) and crocodile (Crocodylia) species. It was determined that the items in question had been imported into Canada without the required permits. In total, 188 leather products made from these species were seized during the investigation.

Quick Facts

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement that Canada signed onto on July 3, 1975, to regulate, or in some cases to prohibit, trade in specific species of wild animals and plants, as well as their respective parts and derivatives.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada is the lead agency responsible for CITES implementation in Canada. The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) is the legislation used to implement CITES in Canada. Under Canadian law, any CITES-listed wildlife imported into Canada, exported from Canada, or attempted to be exported without the required permits may be subject to seizure and forfeiture, and those responsible may be liable to prosecution.

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Manning Environmental Law is a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Our practice is focussed on environmental law, energy law and aboriginal law. 

Paul Manning is a certified specialist in environmental law. He has been named as one of Canada’s leading Environmental Lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: Canada and ranked by Lexpert as one of Canada’s Leading Energy Lawyers.

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