SCI actively works in the international arena protecting the freedom to hunt worldwide. SCI also works to increase hunting access and reduce burdens for international hunters.

For more information on hunting, please visit SCI's International Hunting - Focus on Africa page

Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES): CITES regulates trade in protected species of wildlife including the shipment of hunting trophies. SCI is a leading non-governmental organization participant in CITES and has sent representatives to CITES meetings since 1979. SCI participates in the Conferences of the Parties (CoP), Animals Committee Meetings and Standing Committee Meetings, working with delegates from countries and other organizations around the world.

Before every CoP, SCI produces a Sustainable Use Voting Guide that informs the CITES Parties how they should vote on the Conference’s proposals. CoP18 Voting Guide.

The European Federation of Associations for Hunting & Conservation (FACE): FACE is comprised of European national hunters’ associations and other associate members, including SCI and the SCI Foundation. FACE represents the interests of Europe’s seven million hunters and works on all hunting-related issues in Europe.
World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities (WFSA): SCI's participation in WFSA helps magnify SCI's voice in the international community. The Forum is an educational and scientific association, founded in 1997 by more than two dozen existing associations and organizations. WFSA is a proactive advocacy organization representing a substantial portion of the sport shooting community, working in concert with international bodies, national governments and regulatory authorities, for the worldwide promotion and preservation of sport shooting activities.
United Nations (UN): The UN has no fewer than five programs dedicated to limiting the ability to import or transport firearms. SCI is a registered non-governmental organization with the United Nations, working to oppose any attempt to limit the lawful transportation of firearms for hunting purposes.
Airline Transport: Some of the biggest problems for international hunters are the unnecessary burdens and regulations that impede the transport of firearms and trophies internationally. SCI works with both airlines and governments to reduce the burdens faced by the traveling hunter.
Importation of Wildlife: Even though CITES regulates wildlife trade, many countries and the European Union often impose additional regulations that prohibit or limit trophy importation. SCI works around the world to reduce the burden on hunters who try to bring back legally hunted trophies from abroad.  SCI has participated with other international organizations to advocate for hunting and community-based management of wildlife in range countries and to prevent unnecessary restrictions that impede range country conservation success.
Firearms Ownership and Transport:  Firearms ownership and transportation among European countries is regulated by the European Union Firearms Directive, which is designed to deter terrorism and criminal activity.  SCI works with FACE to prevent amendments to this document that would unnecessarily penalize legal owners and users of firearms (hunters).
Ammunition: Currently one of the biggest threats to hunters and sport shooters around the world is the push to ban or restrict the use of traditional ammunition. SCI is working on multiple fronts to prevent the imposition of requirements that would make it infeasible, if not impossible, for efficient and accessible hunting to continue.
Border Governors and Latin American-U.S. Leadership Forum:  These meetings, scheduled to coincide with SCI’s annual Convention, bring together decision-makers from Mexican states and South American countries to discuss issues of hunting, wildlife management, law enforcement and CITES decision-making.

International Talking Points

IUCN: Informing Decisions on Trophy Hunting

Click here for IUCN Decisions on Trophy Hunting.

On The Issues

Ivory Trade Restrictions

With few exceptions, it is illegal to sell ivory in the United States. For decades, the United States has generally banned the commercial importation of African elephant ivory, other than antique items more than 100 years old; it has also banned the commercial export of all raw ivory and strictly regulated the export of worked ivory. However, until recently, legally imported ivory was allowed to be sold within the U.S., because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) long presumed that most ivory in the U.S. was legally imported and that its sale in the U.S. would not increase poaching. That is no longer the case.

On June 2, 2016, the FWS completed a rule-making process under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to institute a near-total ban on the domestic commercial trade of elephant ivory. The rule, which fulfills restrictions outlined under President Obama’s 2013 Executive Order on Combating Wildlife Trafficking, substantially limits imports, exports and sales of elephant ivory across state lines (interstate). The rule specifically prohibits the sale of sport-hunted trophies across state lines. Sales within a state (intrastate) are very limited.

In some states, lawmakers have also enacted bans on the sale of legally-owned ivory products, claiming that such bans are necessary to protect African elephants from the threat of poaching. SCI is aware of at least ten states that currently have laws prohibiting the trade of ivory within the state: New Jersey, New York, California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, New Hampshire, Illinois, and Minnesota. SCI recommends that any hunter who wishes to sell or otherwise dispose of ivory—whether an elephant trophy or an item that contains ivory—contact the FWS Office of Law Enforcement or an attorney to learn more about your options.

The prohibitions imposed by individual states on the sale of ivory are unnecessary. Existing international treaties and federal laws already provide greater and more appropriate protections to conserve the species. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), ESA, Lacey Act and African Elephant Conservation Act are treaties and federal laws that restrict the importation, possession and trade of endangered and threatened species, including ivory. In addition, current state laws already protect local wildlife and prohibit the possession of any animal product from another country where the wildlife is known to have been killed illegally.

SCI supports efforts to eliminate poaching and curb the trade of illegally and unethically acquired animal parts, including elephant ivory. But, further prohibitions imposed by states would place an undue burden on law-abiding citizens who have legally acquired ivory products over the course of time. And state restrictions do nothing to assist in conservation efforts. The solution to poaching will never be found in proposals that penalize law-abiding citizens. Accordingly, to protect the interests of our members and hunters generally who possess lawfully acquired ivory, SCI has opposed legislative attempts by state legislatures to impose unnecessary and sometimes harmful anti-ivory proposals.

Recent International Affairs Articles

South Africa Drops All COVID Restrictions

By Barbara Crown | June 24, 2022

International travelers arriving in South Africa no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID test results. As of June 23, 2022, the South African government has dropped all COVID-19 restrictions for travelers and citizens/residents of South Africa. South Africa’s Minister of Health Dr. Joe Phaahla said in

US Rescinds Testing Requirements for Travelers

By Barbara Crown | June 10, 2022

The Biden Administration will no longer require travelers to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the United States. The news was leaked to CNN and Reuters early Friday, June 10, 2022, and was confirmed on Twitter by White House Press Secretary Kevin Munoz. The new policy takes effect

South Africa Requires QR Codes to Verify Travelers’ COVID Vaccinations

By Barbara Crown | June 6, 2022

Hunters traveling to South Africa should acquire a QR Code or digital copy of their COVID-19 vaccination card or certificate before travel. The US State Department advises US travelers that the South African Government has informed airlines they will no longer accept the CDC COVID vaccination “white card” as proof

Mexico Now Requires Import Permits for Rifle Scopes

By Barbara Crown | May 20, 2022

Hunters booked for a trip to Mexico should be aware that they must now have import permits issued for their rifle scopes. The new requirement went into effect this past January, and two SCI members from the US report having their rifle scopes seized by officials in Mexico City because

South African Airlines Drops Guns and Overseas Flights

By Barbara Crown | April 28, 2022

Hunters planning to travel to South Africa this safari season should be aware that South African Airlines (SAA) is not accepting firearms as checked baggage. Also, while the airline is flying within South Africa and to other countries on the African continent, it is not flying overseas. SAA had suspended

Is Africa being heard? What European decision-makers should know about hunting, conservation and livelihoods

By SCI Advocacy | April 27, 2022

Brussels, 27 April 2022 – When hunting in Africa is debated in Europe, the media tends to focus on a few charismatic species, using the term “trophy hunting”. The reality is that hunting is mainly centred around common and abundant species, which gives large areas of land conservation value, especially in areas

International Affairs