§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the import of the(a) hides and (b) trophies of (i) polar, (ii) brown, (iii) black and (iv) grizzly bears into the United Kingdom. [43211]
§ Angela EagleImport of these species into the United Kingdom is controlled under European Council Regulation No. 338/97, which implements the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora within the Community. The Regulation prohibits commercial imports of all products of the Brown bear, the Grizzly bear and the Asiatic Black bear. Import of personal effects and the commercial import of other bear species is regulated by a system of import and export permits which are subject to strict conservation criteria and may only be issued where certain conditions are met.