HC Deb 31 March 1998 vol 309 c492W
24. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in respect of the listing of the Amazonian parrot. [35468]

Angela Eagle

Of the 31 species of Amazonian parrot, 13 are listed on Appendix I of CITES and Annex A of the European Regulation governing trade in Member States. This means that international trade in wild specimens of these species is effectively banned. The remaining 18 species are listed on CITES Appendix H and Annex B of the implementing EU Regulation, which means that trade in these is licensed and closely monitored to ensure that it remains below levels at which the species might become endangered.

International trade controls are essential for the survival of many threatened species. The Government fully support the listing on CITES of any species threatened with extinction, and rigorous enforcement of the controls in both range and consumer states.