04.09.2026
Brazil’s recent publication of its Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) for the genera Handroanthus, Tabebuia and Dipteryx highlights the importance of these documents for the international trade in CITES-listed timber species. Two online resources now allow operators to consult NDFs published by individual countries as well as the corresponding export quotas — essential information to check before undertaking an import operation.
Brazil has recently published its Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs) for the genera Handroanthus, Tabebuia and Dipteryx. This publication has been particularly awaited by the timber sector, as Brazil is the world’s leading exporter of ipê and cumaru.
A dedicated database for NDFs
At the request of several Parties, NDFs are now regularly published in a dedicated database maintained by the CITES Secretariat and freely accessible online:
→ NDF database: https://cites.org/eng/virtual-college/ndf?page=1
The database currently contains 292 documents and allows users to search by keyword and publication date.
Alongside the Brazilian NDFs, several recent publications are directly relevant to timber species from the Congo Basin and Southern Africa, including Pterocarpus soyauxii, Khaya anthotheca, Afzelia bipindensis and Pericopsis elata, as well as Mozambique’s NDF for Dalbergia melanoxylon (African blackwood).
Where can export quotas be found?
Export quotas are published separately on the CITES website. The database allows users to search for quotas by country, species and year:
→ CITES export quotas:
https://cites.org/eng/resources/quotas/export_quotas
Two complementary sources of information to check
NDFs and export quotas serve different but complementary purposes. An NDF establishes that the proposed harvesting and trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species, while an export quota, where applicable, sets the annual volume that may be exported.
For operators involved in the international trade of CITES-listed timber species, consulting both resources is therefore an important due diligence step before undertaking an import operation.
