Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976

HC Deb 28 July 2000 vol 354 cc923-4W

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there were under the (i) Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and (ii) Control on Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations (COTES) 1997 in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [131987]

Mr. Mullin

The 1976 Act originally implemented the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in the UK. In 1984, however, it was largely superseded by EC legislation, which implemented CITES throughout the European Union. The 1984 legislation was then itself replaced by revised EC Regulations which came into force on 1 June 1997.

There is no central record of prosecutions or convictions of offences under the COTES regulations. However, we are aware that since 1 June 1997 at least 27 cases have been brought under the COTES regulations, 10 of which resulted in convictions. Of the remaining 17 cases, seven have led to a formal caution and 10 are awaiting trial.