§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made by his Department to airlines regarding the transportation of wild birds into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
964W
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 17 October 1990]: I have been asked to reply.
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food wrote personally to airlines on 26 January 1990 to remind them of their duty of care under the Transit of Animals (General) Order 1973, laying particular emphasis on the treatment of wild-caught birds. My hon. Friend urged the need for airlines to adhere, through all the stages of the journey, to standards laid down in the IATA regulations for the transport of live animals by air. My own Department represents the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora at meetings of the International Air Transport Association's live animals board with a view to ensuring that the provisions of the convention relating to the transport and welfare of live animals are taken into account in the preparation and implementation of the IATA live animals regulations.