HC Deb 18 June 2002 vol 387 c193W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what systems her Department has in place to track Brazilian mahogany in the UK for the purpose of issuing re-export licences where necessary. [60670]

Mr. Meacher

I have been asked to reply.

We have no systems in place to track Brazilian mahogany in the UK. An exporter wishing to re-export unprocessed Brazilian mahogany outside the EU requires a re-export permit from my Department, and would need to present a stamped import notification form as proof of legal importation. Any cargo presented for re-export without the necessary documentation wo ld be liable for seizure.

However, most Brazilian mahogany imported into the UK will be made into furniture and if re-exported will not require a re-export permit under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) because such permits are required only for logs, sawn woods and veneer sheets.