§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans to implement fully EC regulation 338/97. [151139]
Mr. Robert AinsworthCouncil Regulation (EC) No. 338–97 sets out the requirements on member states to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United Kingdom fully implements these Regulations, under which all commercial trade in critically endangered species is prohibited and trade in less endangered species is strictly regulated.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures are(a) in place and (b) planned to reduce the international trade in animals caught in the wild. [151138]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe United Kingdom is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is implemented within the EU by Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 939/97. These Regulations are enforced in the336W UK by the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (S. I. No. 1372). The Regulations currently protect over 30,000 species of animals and plants, and trade is permitted only where we are satisfied that this will not be detrimental to the wild populations of the species concerned. Traders are also encouraged to make use of captive bred sources of animals, and artificially propagated sources of plants, where these can be shown to be produced in a sustainable manner.
The United Kingdom plays an active role within CITES. We are currently taking forward several initiatives aimed at reducing illegal trade in endangered species. These include publicity campaigns aimed at tourists and traditional medicine users and practitioners, and advising them of the constraints on buying wildlife souvenirs and on using endangered species in medicines The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, a coalition of DETR, HM Customs and Excise, police and interested NGOs, has also been set up to address illegal trade in the UK. On the international front we are providing financial and practical support for a number of initiatives, including a CITES working group addressing unsustainable trade in bushmeat (mainly primates but also other endangered species) and a Tiger Enforcement Task Force which aims to provide all CITES Parties with technical advice and intelligence support on illegal trade in tigers and tiger products.