Ivory (Hansard, 1 May 1990)

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to monitor the impact in the United Kingdom of the CITES ban on ivory trade.

§ Mr. Trippier
Records of trade in ivory are being maintained by the Department in accordance with article VIII.6 of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the amount of tradeable ivory currently in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Trippier
The Department does not have comprehensive details of tradeable ivory currently in the United Kingdom. Such information as we have is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 23 April,Official Report, column 11, if he will make it his policy to establish the total amount of ivory currently held at United Kingdom ports of entry and which is not accompanied by CITES documentation; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Trippier
No. Enforcement of CITES controls at ports of entry is primarily the responsibility of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the current controls relating to internal trade in ivory among EEC countries.

§ Mr. Trippier
Internal trade in ivory among EC countries is controlled under EC regulations 3626/82 and 3418/83. Ivory which has been legally imported into one Community country may be moved to other Community countries provided that it is accompanied by a copy of the original import permit, or an EC CITES certificate granted by the Community country from which it is being moved.