Singapore has launched a practical compendium of red flag indicators to help the maritime supply chain identify and respond to illegal wildlife trafficking in containerised sea cargo, in a targeted initiative that builds on global guidance while reflecting the city-state’s unique position as one of the world’s busiest transhipment hubs.

Developed by Singapore’s National Parks Board, TRAFFIC, and WWF, with input from the World Shipping Council, the Singapore Compendium sets out clear risk indicators, case examples, and regulatory expectations for shipping lines, shippers, freight forwarders, and other supply chain actors. It draws on joint industry guidelines previously developed by WSC and partners, adapting them to Singapore’s specific regulatory framework.

“The maritime industry has a critical role to play, working together with government, organisations and shippers to prevent our global supply chains from being exploited by wildlife traffickers,” said Joe Kramek, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council, liner shipping’s lobby group. “This Singapore-specific Red Flag Compendium is a valuable, practical resource that helps translate global guidance into action on the ground.”

Generic global guidance on wildlife trafficking has existed for years, but translating it into port-specific, operationally actionable tools has lagged. Singapore’s role as a major transhipment hub makes it both a high-risk transit point and a high-impact location for enforcement.