§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the restrictions on importation and sale of products derived from farmed bears. [131418]
§ Mr. MorleyUnder animal health controls the importation into England of products derived from bears is only permitted on the basis of a valid import licence issued by Defra. Each application for a licence is assessed on its own merits and in deciding whether or not a licence should be issued consideration is given to any animal health risk the product may present. In addition, the international trade in all bear species and their parts and derivatives is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Government implements strict policies on trade to conserve endangered species and maintains a precautionary approach banning all commercial trade in bear bile or gall bladders irrespective of whether or not they come from captive bred specimens, on the grounds that this trade is likely to be detrimental to the species. International trade in other products derived from farmed bears listed in the Appendices to CITES is subject to regulation to ensure that it stays below the level at which species might become endangered.