§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to seek the amendment of article 3 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species' regulations so that species are included in annex B in instances when trade is deemed incompatible with species survival;
(2) if he will make it his policy to seek the amendment of article 4 of the CITES regulations to allow imports only when benefits to conservation have been proven.
§ Mr. MacleanGood progress is being made under the United Kingdom presidency in discussion of the proposed EC CITES regulation. One of our key objectives is to strengthen protection for species in which any trade would be incompatible with their survival. Our policy is that such species should be listed in annex A so that they can be given the highest level of protection. Annex B, which 953W affords less protection, should, however, include species whose survival would be threatened only in certain places or by trade at particular levels.
Imports of annex A specimens should be allowed only in exceptional circumstances, generally when they would be of conservation benefit. Such strict restrictions would not be appropriate for species listed on other annexes in which trade is not incompatible with their survival.
The general approach of the Government to this proposal was set out by my noble friend the Lord Strathclyde in his letter of 14 September to the Lord Moran. The letter is available in the Library of the House together with copies of representations received by the Department in response to a consultation exercise carried out earlier this year.