{"id":"F2025L00101","name":"Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Stricter Domestic Measures—Panthera Leo (African lion)) Declaration 2025","slug":"environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442718,"registerId":"F2025L00101-fast-fetch-1775957676898","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Stricter Domestic Measures—Panthera Leo (African lion)) Declaration 2025","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Stricter Domestic Measures—Panthera Leo (African Lion)) Declaration 2025\n\nI, Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, make the following Declaration.\n\nDated  4 February 2025\n\nTanya Plibersek\n\nMinister for the Environment and Water\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Modification of List of CITES Species\n\n6  Repeal\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nList of CITES Species - Declaration of a stricter domestic measure in accordance with section 303CB\n\n \n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (Stricter Domestic Measures—Panthera Leo (African Lion)) Declaration 2025.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsection 303CB(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.\n\n4  Definitions\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.\n\nCITES means the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora made at Washington on 3 March 1973, as amended and in force for Australia from time to time.\n\n5  Modification of List of CITES Species\n\n  The list of CITES species established under subsection 303CA(1) of the Act has effect as if the species Panthera leo (African Lion) included in Appendix II to CITES is included in Appendix I to CITES.\n\n6  Repeal\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned.\n\n\n\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nList of CITES Species - Declaration of a stricter domestic measure in accordance with section 303CB\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument performs exactly the narrow function its title suggests — applying stricter domestic measures for African lions under CITES. There is no scope creep; it does one thing and does it directly."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (6 sections plus a repeal schedule)","Only 2 defined terms ('Act' and 'CITES')","Single operative provision (section 5) with straightforward legal effect","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","No cross-references beyond basic authority citations","Repeal provision is standard and mechanical"],"plain_english_summary":"Australia is declaring African lions as if they were CITES Appendix I, effectively banning commercial import, export and sale of lions, their parts (including trophies), and derived products. This applies to hunters, zoos, wildlife traders and conservation groups, and prevents lion trophy returns to Australia. Using the EPBC Act, the declaration lets Australia go beyond CITES minimums to tighten protections amid concerns about declining wild lion populations."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument narrows the permissible domestic treatment of Panthera leo by making it operate \"as if\" included in CITES Appendix I for the purposes of the Act (s5), thereby tightening domestic controls compared with its prior listing. It also repeals the earlier domestic CITES‑listing declaration in full (s6; Schedule 1), replacing the prior domestic classification and shifting compliance obligations onto persons seeking trade, import, export, possession or permits for the species."},"complexity_factors":["Single, narrowly targeted amendment: reclassifies one species’ domestic treatment (s5).","Cross‑reference to external treaty designations (CITES Appendices) requires tracking treaty status over time (Definitions; s5).","Relies on statutory mechanism in the Act (subsection 303CB(1) cited in s3) — legal effect depends on interplay with the List of CITES Species established under subsection 303CA(1).","Repeal of an earlier instrument (s6; Schedule 1) requires attention to transitional or consequential treatment in other instruments or administrative practice.","Operational effects (permits, prohibitions, compliance burden) are indirect: instrument changes legal classification but does not itself set permit procedures or penalties (impacts arise via the Act and existing regulatory framework)."],"plain_english_summary":"This declaration treats the African lion (Panthera leo) as if it were listed in CITES Appendix I for the purposes of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, imposing a stricter domestic measure on trade and related activities (s5). It takes effect the day after registration and repeals the prior domestic CITES‑listing instrument (ss2, 5, 6; Schedule 1). The change increases legal and administrative restrictions for anyone seeking to trade, import, export, possess or obtain permits for African lions or their parts in Australia."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african","history":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african/history","analysis":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/environment-protection-and-biodiversity-conservation-stricter-domestic-measures-panthera-leo-african/documents"}}