§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by Customs and Excise in respect of the sale of bear bile products by the Sino-Herbalist Centre, 90–92 Shaftesbury avenue, London W1V 7DH.
§ Sir John CopeThe illegal sale of bear bile products is an offence for which the police, rather than Customs, have enforcement responsibility. Customs has responsibility for the enforcement at importation of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species controls and is very willing to take appropriate action if provided with information about illegal importation.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of all bear products seized by Customs and Excise during each of the last three years for which records are available.
§ Sir John CopeHM Customs has made two seizures of bear products in the last three years: one bearskin imported from Norway and seized at Immingham in January 1990 and one rug—Ursus Americanus—imported from Montreal and seized at Heathrow in July 1993.