§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ban the import of wild birds into the United Kingdom for the purpose of being kept as domestic pets; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Sainsbury[holding answer 17 October 1990]: The import of wild birds is already strictly controlled by conservation legislation. The United Kingdom is party to the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) under which trade in certain species is closely monitored whilst commercial trade in the most endangered species is completely banned. The import of many non-CITES species into the United Kingdom is also controlled under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976.
I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is currently looking at ways of improving and extending the controls on the import of species which are unlikely to survive in captivity.