HC Deb 24 October 1988 vol 139 c87W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to prohibit the import of all wildlife and derivative products from non-CITES countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Adequate measures are already taken in the application of CITES controls and stipulate that documentation from non-party states can be accepted provided it complies with the requirements of the convention. Imports from non-party states are accepted only if covered by such documents. These measures conform to resolution 3.8 of the third conference of the parties to the convention. In any event, the CITES regulation could be amended only by the European Community.