Introducing EPIX

Introducing EPIX
electronic permit information exchange
The EPIX system makes it easy for CITES Parties to exchange and verify CITES
permit data electronically in near-real time. EPIX allows Parties and relevant
authorities such as Customs to query and retrieve electronic permit information
through a secure website. It has been developed with financial support from the
European Commission. UNEP-WCMC is working with the CITES Secretariat to
further develop the system and make it available to Parties.
Additional information on EPIX is available from http://epix.unep-wcmc.org
http://epix.unep-wcmc.org

Why EPIX?
If a Party needs to check the details of a CITES permit issued by another
Management Authority (MA) or verify that the permit is valid, currently they must
consult bilaterally (e.g. by email). This can be time consuming and inefficient. EPIX
provides an online query and verification system, eliminating the need for MAs to
provide manual responses to queries from other MAs. It can also aid customs
authorities to detect permit fraud by allowing them to check paperwork against the
original permit issued. In future, annual reporting burdens could be reduced where
permit data is submitted automatically through EPIX. In addition, trade data can be
made available in near-real time, avoiding the current delay of up to 22 months
before trade is reported.
The objectives of EPIX are to allow MAs to:
• share permit data electronically in
near-real time
• submit online queries on permits
issued by their own or other MAs
How does it work?
EPIX is available
over the internet. Permit
queries are submitted by authorised
CITES Authorities through a secure,
password protected interface. Only the
relevant information usually included
within annual reports is displayed.
EU CITES Authorities can also query
EU Certificates issued.
http://epix.unep-wcmc.org

How do Parties share permit data through EPIX?
Management Authorities can join EPIX regardless of the information management
system they currently use. There are two routes for MAs to include data in EPIX:
Automated data provision (computer-to-computer)
National Management Authority
Permit
database
MA copies data
onto internet server
EPIX Server facilitates exchange
1 2 3
Authorised
third user
• Automated data provision
Parties which have developed
automated data transfer tools
(webservices) can establish a direct link
with UNEP-WCMC to enable them to
“push” their permit data into the EPIX
database or have their data “pulled” at
regular intervals, or provide a service
that allows data extraction on demand.
Requirements:
Data exchange will take place through
XML (Extensible Markup Language).
This XML language structures the data
transfer and encodes documents
electronically. Parties developing new
systems should use the CITES
e-permitting toolkit as a data standard
(www.cites.org/common/cop/15/doc/
E15-30-01T.pdf)
Batch data provision
National permit database
EPIX Server
1 2 3
• Batch data provision
Parties can send or upload batches
of data on a regular basis via email
or the secure website for inclusion in
the EPIX database.
Data will need to conform
to a specified format in, for
example, an Excel or csv file.
UNEP-WCMC will provide
formatting advice. Please
contact epix@unep-wcmc.org
MA sends data in batches
(via email/internet upload)
Authorised
third user
How to query permits from Parties which do not include data in EPIX
Case-by-case queries (email provision)
Permit query
submitted to EPIX
by authorised third user
1
3
EPIX Server
2
Issuing MA
EPIX Server dispatches
email to validate data
• Case-by-case queries
(email provision)
Permits issued by Parties that do not
include data in EPIX can still be queried.
If a permit is not found in the database,
an automatic query will be sent to the
issuing MA to request confirmation of
the permit details. The issuing MA can
then enter details within a secure website
for inclusion within the database.
A designated email address will be
required to which queries can be sent.
The default will be the MA email address
listed on the CITES website.
UNEP-WCMC stands ready to provide technical and advisory services to Parties that
participate in EPIX. We can provide advice on formatting data and development of a
standard XML schema, as well as data transfer and testing.
http://epix.unep-wcmc.org
http://epix.unep-wcmc.org

Future of EPIX in electronic permitting scenarios
EPIX can provide a crucial link between the CITES e-permitting systems that are
under development by many Parties and is supported by the CITES working group on
e-permitting 1 . For example EPIX can:
• facilitate the exchange of, and access to CITES permit data between MAs
• act as a central repository of password protected data for use by MAs and Customs
• allow Parties to reduce opportunities for fraud and improve validation of CITES permits
and certificates
In future, EPIX could:
• play a crucial role in providing Parties with a means to register their data automatically
with the CITES Trade Database
• assist Parties with reporting obligations and increase the value of the CITES Trade
Database by offering near-real time data on international trade in specimens of
CITES-listed species
MA System A
MA System B
Secure connection
MA System D
MA System C
EPIX system
MAs need make only one connection
to EPIX, which will facilitate multiple
connections with other Parties
1
http://www.cites.org/eng/com/SC/62/E62-32.pdf
http://epix.unep-wcmc.org

How to participate & find out more…
Take a tour of EPIX at http://epix.unep-wcmc.org
For further information, comments, and support for next phases of development of
EPIX please contact:
Species Programme
UNEP-WCMC, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL (UK)
Tel: +44-(0)1223 814621
Email: epix@unep-wcmc.org
The initial development of EPIX and the publication of this brochure was made
possible by the financial support of the European Commission
Photo credits:
André Karwath (Dendrobates auratus); Himarerme (Ara macao); Rute Martins (Panthera pardus);
Martin Battiti (Orchidaceae spp.); Orchi (Testudo hermanni).