Bahrain has moved to strengthen its environmental protection framework, with the Shura Council unanimously approving amendments granting the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) broader authority to regulate international trade in endangered wildlife and plant species.
The draft law, which was earlier approved by Parliament, has now been referred to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification.
The proposal was earlier reviewed by the Shura Council’s public utilities and environment affairs committee, which confirmed that the amendment is constitutionally and legally sound and consistent with Bahrain’s international environmental obligations, particularly under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Committee rapporteur and vice-chairman Juma Al Kaabi said the amendment aims to enable the SCE to exercise its mandate comprehensively by updating and amending all annexes attached to the law, which contain the
national lists of protected species – especially those
most at risk of extinction.
He explained that the law includes three annexes. Annex One lists species threatened with extinction or likely to be affected by trade, requiring strict regulation and allowing trade only in exceptional cases. Annex Two covers species that are not currently endangered but could become so without strict trade controls. Annex Three includes species identified by any party as requiring international co-operation to regulate trade.
Under the current framework, the SCE is authorised to amend only Annex Three. Any changes to Annexes One and Two require a full legislative amendment – a process the committee warned could delay Bahrain’s compliance with periodic CITES updates, which are issued every three years.
“Granting the SCE authority to amend all annexes will enhance the effectiveness of regulating international trade, particularly exports, re-exports, imports or the introduction of living or non-living animal and plant specimens,” Mr Al Kaabi said, referring to what the law defines as ‘specimens’ of listed species.
Committee chairman Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan said the amendment was essential to ensure Bahrain keeps pace with rapidly evolving global environmental standards.
“The law strengthens national efforts to conserve biodiversity while maintaining a balance between environmental protection and sustainable development,” Dr Hassan said. “It reinforces Bahrain’s role as a responsible partner in regional and international environmental co-operation.”
Dr Hassan explained that wildlife naturally belongs to ecosystems without human interference, but human activity has increasingly driven illegal trade.
“Out of concern for these species becoming extinct, the world agreed on a legal instrument to protect them from unfair international trade,” he said. “Bahrain joined this convention in 2021 and enacted a national law. This amendment now enables the SCE to update Annexes One and Two, not just the third annex.”
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