Euphorbia antisyphilitica (Candelilla)

Trade in E. antisyphilitica met two selection criteria in 2011: high volume trade and a sharp increase in trade. EU imports comprised wild-sourced wax traded for commercial purposes, all of which originated in Mexico. Between 2010 and 2011, wax reported without a unit increased eight-fold to 20 407 units, while wax reported by weight decreased by 68% to 640 178 kg. The species was reviewed at SRG 41 and 44, with a positive opinion formed for Mexico on 14/09/2007 and confirmed on 26/05/2008.

2010 Summary for Euphorbia antisyphilitica (Candelilla)

Criteria met:  High volume, sharp increase

Principal trade term to the EU:  wax

Principal source:  wild

Top EU importer:  Netherlands

Top Trading Partner:  United States, Mexico

CITES Appendix:  II

IUCN Status:  -

EU-reported imports of wild-sourced Euphorbia antisyphilitica wax (reported in kg), all purposes, 2001-2010.

In 2010, EU imports principally comprised wild-sourced wax (825,043 kg and 2,500 wax reported without a unit), all of which originated in Mexico and was imported for commercial purposes. Imports of wild-sourced wax reported by weight nearly tripled between 2009 and 2010.

Following the adoption of CoP15 Proposal 25, annotation #4 for E. antisyphilitica was amended on 23/06/2010 to include an exemption for “finished products of Euphorbia antisyphilitica packaged and ready for retail trade”. This will have implications for the monitoring of trade in E. antisyphilitica in the future.

The SRG formed a positive opinion for wild specimens from Mexico on 14/09/2007, which was confirmed on 26/05/2008.