§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many spot checks for bushmeat on United Kingdom inbound flights were made in each of the past three years; what amount of bushmeat was seized in total; and how many prosecutions have resulted. [HL2957]
§ Lord WhittyMany animals hunted and traded as bushmeat are listed in the appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any international trade in these animals, their parts or derivatives is therefore either banned completely or controlled by means of permits.
Other animals which may be defined as so called bushmeat, such as small game animals, may be traded legally under Community rules.
7WASince April 2001, we have been advised of 1,142 seizures of illegally imported animal products. There is no clear definition of bushmeat. It is therefore difficult to provide an accurate figure on how many of these seizures were bushmeat.
HM Customs and Excise has prosecuted three people for CITES offences involving illegal meat imports. Two were convicted and one was acquitted but convicted under a separate animal health offence.