§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what formal projects for monitoring all pet trade-related take of wildlife imported into the United Kingdom currently exists; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what scientific evaluations of natural populations of wildlife imported into the United Kingdom for pet trade purposes are made under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Paul BeresfordUnder CITES, scientific evaluations of natural populations are primarily the responsibility of those countries in which specimens are taken from the wild. Under a process promoted by the United Kingdom, a committee of the convention monitors the means by which these countries ensure that the number of animals taken from the wild for export do not threaten the survival of the species. Remedial action may be recommended and assistance may be offered in some cases. If recommendations are not implemented satisfactorily, trade may be suspended. The European Council regulation on CITES applies stricter tests to the import of certain species and trade in these may be suspended where there is insufficient evidence that the level of exports of animals taken from the wild is sustainable.
Some of the animals included in these processes will form part of the pet trade.
Individual import applications under CITES, including those relating to the pet trade, are also referred to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee which advises us on any conservation implications.