§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that the only use of ambergris is as a fixative for delicate scents, and that substitutes are available, if he will now prohibit the import of this product.
§ Mr. MarksAmbergris is derived from the sperm whale which is not listed as endangered or threatened in the Appendices to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. My right hon. Friend therefore has no plans to introduce controls on the import of ambergris under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 which implements the Washington Convention in the United Kingdom.