§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if France sought the approval of the EEC Commission on its decision to ban ivory imports on 5 June; and if he will make a statement on the rights of EEC member states to impose such unilateral trade curbs.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI have been asked to reply.
Under article 15 of the EC regulations implementing CITES in the Community, member states may take stricter measures on CITES species in certain circumstances. We had no formal notification that France intended to introduce a ban on the import of ivory before the Council of Environment Ministers on 8 and 9 June where member states were invited to do so.