One-time voluntary disclosure scheme for exotic animals

The voluntary disclosure scheme from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is a one-time scheme that allows owners of exotic animal species to declare their stock between June and December this year. This could be stock that was acquired illegally or is owned without documents. The initiative is aimed at addressing the issue of zoonotic diseases, improve compliance with CITES and regulate exotic species imports. ‘Exotic live species’ includes animals listed under Appendices I, II and III of CITES.