CITES Permit & Agarwood Import Guide

FOREZA · B2B Wholesale · CITES Appendix II · Aquilaria sinensis

By FOREZA Compliance Team · 2026-06-04 · 7 min read · Wholesale & B2B

Aquilaria — the genus that produces agarwood — has been listed in CITES Appendix II since 2005. Trade is allowed, but every international shipment must be accompanied by an export permit from the country of origin. This guide explains what that means in practice for buyers, what documentation you should expect to receive with your order, and the country-by-country import rules for the four regions that account for the majority of agarwood imports.

What is CITES?

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is a multilateral treaty signed by 183 governments that regulates international trade in species at risk of over-exploitation. CITES has three appendices, with progressively stricter trade restrictions:

• Appendix I — Commercial trade is prohibited. Examples: tigers, gorillas, certain orchids.
• Appendix II — Trade is allowed, but each shipment must be accompanied by an export permit from the country of origin. Aquilaria species (including A. sinensis) have been listed here since 2005.
• Appendix III — Trade is allowed with a certificate of origin, but specific countries have requested additional monitoring.

The 2005 listing of Aquilaria species was a response to over-harvesting of wild populations. The intent was not to ban agarwood trade — agarwood has been a culturally important product for centuries — but to ensure that all trade is documented, traceable, and sourced from cultivated rather than wild populations. Properly managed agarwood cultivation is a sustainable agricultural practice that provides economic incentive to plant more Aquilaria trees.

What Documentation Should I Expect?

Every international agarwood shipment from FOREZA is accompanied by the following documents. Buyers should request a copy of each before shipment, and verify the permit number against the issuing authority if there is any doubt.

Country-by-Country Import Rules

The export side is FOREZA's responsibility. The import side is determined by your country. Below is a practical guide for the four regions that account for the majority of our B2B shipments.

United States

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) oversees CITES imports through its eDecs electronic declaration system. For Appendix II species with valid export documentation from the country of origin, clearance is generally routine. Most shipments clear within 1–3 business days at the port of entry. First-time commercial importers may need to register with USFWS; your customs broker can advise.

European Union

Each EU member state has its own CITES Management Authority. Most countries require a CITES import permit for first-time commercial imports of Appendix II species. The importer (you) is responsible for obtaining this in advance. Once you have a permit, repeat shipments are simpler. The European Commission publishes an annual CITES trade report with country-specific contact details.

United Kingdom

Post-Brexit, the UK operates its own CITES system through the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Imports of Aquilaria species are allowed with valid export documentation from the country of origin. Commercial importers should register with APHA in advance.

Middle East / GCC

GCC countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) are the world's largest agarwood importers. Clearance is generally smooth because local customs authorities are familiar with the documentation. Most GCC shipments clear in 1–3 days. Local customs brokers in Dubai, Riyadh, and Kuwait City are experienced with agarwood imports.

Southeast Asia

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines each have their own CITES contact. Most ASEAN countries accept Chinese export documentation with minimal additional paperwork. Singapore in particular is a major re-export hub for agarwood to other regional markets.

Common Customs Issues & How to Avoid Them

Issue 1: Missing or Expired Export Permit

The most common issue is a shipment arriving with an expired or incorrectly formatted CITES permit. The fix: request a copy of the permit before shipment and verify the expiration date. Permits are typically valid for 6 months from issuance.

Issue 2: Species Mismatch

The CITES permit must match the actual species in the shipment. Some buyers mistakenly receive A. crassna (Vietnam) when the permit was issued for A. sinensis (China), or vice versa. The fix: ask your supplier to confirm the species in writing before shipment.

Issue 3: Source Code

CITES permits for cultivated Aquilaria use source code "C" (cultivated). Source code "W" (wild) is increasingly rare and subject to additional scrutiny. FOREZA only ships cultivated material with source code "C."

Issue 4: First-Time Importer Without Registration

Some countries require commercial importers to register with their CITES Management Authority before the first shipment. The fix: contact your national authority at least 30 days before your first planned import.

Verifying Our Permit

Buyers can verify FOREZA's CITES export permit at any time by emailing zhangxiaobao217@gmail.com with subject "CITES Permit Verification." We respond within 2 business days with a scanned copy of the current permit and confirmation of the permit number on your shipment's documents.

For a deeper look at our sourcing practices and CITES compliance, see /pages/sourcing-ethics. For the B2B import workflow, see How to Import Agarwood from China: A B2B Buyer's Guide.

Continue Exploring

• Sourcing & CITES Ethics
• Wholesale & B2B Landing Page
• How to Import Agarwood from China
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Frequently Asked Questions