1973年訂定的「關於瀕臨絕種野生動植物之國際交易條約（通稱華盛頓公約）」，是最早經由管制瀕臨絕種野生動植物的交易，以保護野生動植物及其永續利用為目的的世界性國際公約。本文從國際法的角度，探討華盛頓公約中確保實效性的制度與其運用情況。特別是日本於1999年許可非洲象象牙的試驗性進口，結果遭到各方對於日本的批判，本文將從國際法角度加以客觀判斷此等批判，並藉此分析公約上的法律制度。

"Conventions on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (so called CITES)" of 1973 is a global international convention aiming to protect wild fauna and flora and their sustainable usage through the mechanism of controlling their transactions; This essay is intending to analyze the CITES regime from the international law perspectives on its effect to assure the protection and utilization of wild fauna and flora; A picture of Japan on the fact that the country allowed to experimentally import African ivory in 1999 which triggered criticism from high contracting parties of the regime is presented to highlight the actual issues, so to assist the criticism over the like scenario and point out related problems.