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28th Meeting of the Plants Committee (PC28) – CITES

July 24 , 2026 15 hrs 0 min 101 0

28^th meeting of the Plants Committee (PC28) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was held in Geneva, Switzerland
It is the first plant‑focused meeting since CoP20 (Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Dec 2025)
It marks the beginning of a new 3‑year cycle leading up to CoP21 (Panama City, Nov 2028)
Plants Committee is one of two permanent scientific bodies under CITES (the other is the Animals Committee).
As a New Dimension, Fungi was discussed as a separate agenda item for the first time.
It is a sign that CITES’ scientific interest is widening beyond plants and animals
India argued for stronger scientific backing before listing guggul, supported by Central African Republic and Congo.
Guggul, listing under Appendix II, affects India’s Ayurvedic industry.
India earlier kept Agarwood or Aquilaria malaccensis out of the Review of Significant Trade, citing cultivation in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura.
India had secured a higher export quota.
India is part of the working group refining agarwood trade guidance.